December 26th 2024.
Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most extreme Christmas weather in Chicago, dating all the way back to 1872. This data, provided by the National Weather Service, was collected at the official recording site of the city, which has been O'Hare International Airport since 1980. Prior to that, weather data was gathered at various locations around downtown Chicago, the University of Chicago, and Midway International Airport for almost a century.
In 2024, meteorologists predicted that the holiday would be far from a winter wonderland. Instead, it was expected to be dreary, cloudy, and damp. But as we look back at the history of Christmas weather in Chicago, we can see that the city has experienced all kinds of conditions on this special day.
Let's start with the warmest Christmas on record, which happened on December 25, 1982. On this day, the high temperature reached a balmy 64 degrees. But just one year later, Chicago experienced its coldest Christmas ever, with a low of minus 17 degrees. It's worth noting that there have been three instances in the past 150 years when the city has experienced extreme temperature swings from one year to the next.
In 2024, the high temperature reached 39 degrees, while in 2023 it was a much warmer 59 degrees – the second warmest on record for this date. In fact, highs in the mid-50s have occurred in both 2021 and 2019 as well.
On the other end of the spectrum, Chicago's coldest Christmas on record was in 1983 when the low temperature dropped to minus 17 degrees. However, in 2024, the low was a relatively mild 32 degrees.
When it comes to precipitation, Chicago has seen its fair share of wet Christmases. In 1950, half an inch of rain fell before turning into five inches of snow, making for treacherous road conditions. Interestingly, this has only happened twice in the past 150 years – once in 1909 and again in 1950, when rain turned to snow and five inches were recorded on both occasions. The Chicago Tribune reported that in 1909, "Every street in the Loop district was a mass of slush that made crossing perilous," while in 1950, "cab companies reported a big business, being unable to handle all the calls as citizens left their automobiles at home and sought other transportation for holiday gatherings." However, it's worth noting that at least a little bit of rain tends to fall on Christmas, with precipitation of less than half an inch occurring in 95 of the 154 years on record.
As for snowfall, Chicago has only seen more than an inch on 16 Christmases since 1872. The record snowfall of 5.1 inches occurred on December 25, 1950.
For a closer look at how the Chicago Tribune covered Christmas temperature highs and lows over the years, here are some notable excerpts from their coverage:
In 1877, the Tribune reported, "Yesterday was the most uneventful and unsensational of all Christmases that have been celebrated in Chicago since the city has had an existence and a name. The 25th of December of last year was furiously cold. That of the preceding year was sloppy and chilly. But this one was memorable for being a day of continuous rain, without a vestige anywhere of the snow and ice which generally characterize the season."
In 1891, the Tribune wrote, "In yesterday's change of weather there was a drop of nearly 25 degrees in a few hours, and many who had gone out for a drive in fairly warm clothing felt well chilled before they could get home again."
In 1892, they described the weather as "a little like the weather of old-time yule-tides that came with cold blasts from the north. Drifts of snow, bursts of sunshine, and all the train of jollity that follows in the wake of a roaring winter storm."
In 1893, the Tribune reported, "There was nothing in the weather repertoire that was not used yesterday on Chicago except hail. There was fan weather, fur weather, umbrella and parasol weather, overcoat and seersucker weather. Any one dissatisfied with the weather needed only to wait a few minutes and it would change."
In 1895, they noted, "The unique sight of an endless stream of children carrying dolls wending their way along Michigan Avenue attracted the attention of the guests of the hotels along the way. So interested did the spectators become in the children that many were stopped and their dolls examined and commented on."
In 1903, the Tribune wrote, "One death, numerous accidents, and delayed street car traffic have already resulted from the storm, which came unannounced and caught the city unawares."
In 1914, they reported, "The mercury shot below the zero mark early this morning. Between 3 o'clock and 9 last night the mercury dropped fourteen degrees and stood at two above. By midnight it had reached zero, and was still going down."
In 1924, the Tribune described the weather as "the coldest Christmas day in fifty-two years in Chicago." They wrote, "The mercury dropped to 6 degrees below zero at 3:30 a.m. and hovered close to the zero mark throughout the day, despite the brilliant sunshine. … Four deaths ascribed to the cold and 154 fire alarms were recorded during the day."
In 1935, they reported, "Christmas brought Chicago a freak cold snap and a snowstorm which surprised the weather forecaster almost as much as it did the public." They also shared a heartwarming photo of a man taking two women for a sleigh ride in Lincoln Park.
As we can see, Christmas weather in Chicago has certainly varied over the years, with temperatures ranging from 64 degrees to minus 17 degrees and everything in between. It just goes to show that when it comes to the holiday season, you never know what kind of weather you're going to get.
As we celebrate another holiday season, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the most extreme Christmas weather in Chicago dating back to 1872. With data collected from the National Weather Service at the official recording site of O'Hare International Airport, we can see just how unpredictable the weather can be in the Windy City. Prior to 1980, weather data was gathered from various locations around downtown Chicago, the University of Chicago, and Midway International Airport.
Looking back at 2024, meteorologists were predicting a damp and dreary day, a far cry from a winter wonderland. But this wouldn't be the first time Chicago experienced a less than ideal Christmas weather. In fact, in 1982, the city recorded its warmest Christmas with a high of 64 degrees. However, the following year, Chicago experienced its coldest Christmas with a low of -17 degrees. It's not uncommon for the city to have extreme temperature swings during the holiday season, with at least three instances in the past 150 years where opposite temperature extremes occurred in consecutive years.
In 2024, the high temperature reached 39 degrees, while in 2023, it was a balmy 59 degrees - the second warmest Christmas on record in Chicago. Highs in the mid-50s were also recorded in 2021 and 2019, showing just how unpredictable the weather can be during this time of year.
On the flipside, just one year after Chicago's warmest Christmas, the city experienced its coldest on record with a low of -17 degrees. This bitter cold was part of a 100-hour stretch below zero. Jumping to 2024, the low temperature was a mere 32 degrees, a stark contrast to the record-breaking cold in 1983.
When it comes to precipitation, Chicago has seen its fair share of rain and snow on Christmas. One notable event was in 1950 when half an inch of rain fell before turning into five inches of snow, making for treacherous road conditions. According to the National Weather Service, this has only happened twice since 1872. In both instances, the rain turned into snow, resulting in about five inches of snowfall each time. The Chicago Tribune reported in 1909 that the entire Loop district was covered in slush, making it dangerous for pedestrians. Then in 1950, with the roads being almost impassable, cab companies were overwhelmed with calls from people seeking alternative transportation for their holiday gatherings.
But it's not just rain and snow that Chicagoans have to worry about on Christmas. Since 1872, there have only been 16 recorded instances of snowfall exceeding an inch on Christmas. The record snowfall was in 1950 with 5.1 inches. Let's take a look at some other notable weather events that occurred on Christmas according to the Chicago Tribune.
In 1877, the weather was described as the most uneventful and unsensational Christmas in Chicago's history. The following year, in 1891, the weather experienced a drastic temperature drop of almost 25 degrees in just a few hours. In 1892, the city was hit with a winter storm, bringing with it snow, sunshine, and a sense of holiday cheer. The weather continued to fluctuate in the following years, with 1895 seeing a high of 56 degrees and children parading along Michigan Avenue with their dolls. However, in 1903, the weather took a turn for the worse with a snowstorm that caught the city off guard, resulting in accidents and delays in public transportation.
Moving on to the early 1900s, Chicago saw some of its coldest Christmases on record. In 1914, the mercury dropped to minus 1 degree, and in 1924, it hit a low of minus 6 degrees. In 1935, the city experienced a freak cold snap and a snowstorm that surprised both the weather forecasters and the public.
As we look back at the weather on Christmas in Chicago, it's clear that Mother Nature has a mind of her own. From record-breaking temperatures to unexpected snowstorms, the holiday season in the Windy City is never dull. So as we gather with our loved ones this Christmas, let's be thankful for the warmth and coziness of our homes, no matter what the weather may bring.
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