Cold in Illinois, December 14 to 15, 2025

Name: Cold in Illinois, December 14 to 15, 2025
Start: 2025-12-14T00:00
End: 2025-12-15T05:00
Location: Illinois

December 14 to 15, 2025 · NWS LOT · 25 events in 22 counties and zones

Bitterly cold air moved across Illinois during mid December with wind chills 20 below to 25 below zero for many areas with a few locations as low as 30 below zero on the morning of December 14th. Wind chills were 20 below to 25 below zero across central Illinois on the morning of December 15th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 25 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 25

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LOT wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 13, 10:55 PM CST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Very cold the rest of the weekend with dangerously cold wind chills expected tonight into Sunday morning.
Moderating temperatures expected during the upcoming work week.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 13, 10:55 PM CST, 1 hour 5 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
1055 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Very cold the rest of the weekend with dangerously cold wind
  chills expected tonight into Sunday morning.

- Moderating temperatures expected during the upcoming work week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 245 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

Snow across the southern third or so of the CWA is expected to
end by 23-00z. Have pushed up the end time of the winter weather
advisory to 00z. While the falling snow will end, given the
character of the snow that fell today there will probably be
enough wind tonight to cause some minor drifting back onto roads
in non-wind protected areas.

Otherwise, look for skies to quickly clear out early this
evening, though with sfc high remaining well to our west, winds
should stay up around 10-15 mph. The low level cold air
advection will keep boundary layer rather mixed and limiting
radiational cooling, but just straight advection should be
sufficient for temps to drop to near zero or below zero most
areas. Downtown Chicago and downwind of Lake Michigan in Porter
County are the main exceptions, where lows should remain a bit
above zero.

With winds not expected to decouple and temps dropping to
near/below zero, wind chills of 15-25 below zero still look
like a good bet overnight into Sunday morning. Cold wx advisory
for tonight/Sunday morning looks to be in good shape and no
changes are planned.

Lake effect snow showers are expected to over northeast Porter
County tonight into Sunday morning. Expecting multi-band
structure to the lake effect and somewhat limited fetch for
Porter County, so probably looking at accumulations of 1-3" by
midday Sunday when the lake effect is expected to end.

By sunset Sunday evening, Arctic high pressure should be
centered over central and southern portions of Illinois and
Indiana. There should be a window for strong radiational cooling
early Sunday evening, particularly southern CWA in closer
proximity to the high center and where there will be fresh
snowpack from today's system. Currently have evening lows around
5 below near the Hwy 24 corridor, but wouldn't be surprised to
see temps dip down to the double digits below zero. This would
also open to the door to some patchy shallow freezing fog in
those areas, which may need to be added to later forecast
updates for the southern CWA.

The sfc high will quickly move eastward Sunday night, likely
reaching West Virginia by sunrise Monday morning. This will
allow southerly winds and warm air advection to quickly ramp up
through Sunday night. Following evening lows, most areas should
see temps rise 10F+ through the night. The rising temps will be
accompanied by strengthening winds so any moderation in temps
will be offset by the wind chills.

Large scale pattern over North America will quickly transition
to zonal for the upcoming work week. The main storm track is
expected to remain well north of our area, so we'll be dominated
by Pacific origin air mass. Extensive snow cover locally and
upstream should temper the moderation some, but still looks like
temps should begin climbing above freezing by Tue and Wed
afternoons.

The first fast moving system passing to our north should drag a
weak cold front across the area Tuesday evening. Very little
cooling is expected behind this front, with warm air advection
ramping back by later in the day Wednesday. A stronger trough
and more vigorous sfc low is progged to track along the
Canadian border into the upper Great Lakes by Thursday. Both GFS
and ECMWF have a ~980mb sfc low reach Lake Superior, which will
result in very tight pressure gradient resulting in strong south
winds and warm/moist advection. GFS/ECMWF both have the 50F
isodrosotherm close to or into our CWA later Wednesday night
into early Thursday, which should this verify would rapidly
decimate our snow pack!

Trailing cold front from this system should sweep across the
area Thursday, probably accompanied by some rain showers. A
quick hitting shot of colder (more seasonable) temps are likely
in the wake of this front, but with flow remaining zonal temps
look to rebound again to above average levels later Friday into
early next weekend. After today's snow in our southern CWA,
the overall pattern in the medium range guidance looks to
maintain above to much above average temperatures with only
brief cool downs through the next 2 weeks. This doesn't bode
well for any meaningful snow chances prior to Christmas.
Obviously a lot can change and can't rule out a sneaky rouge
lower amplitude system producing some snow, but with the
upcoming pattern likely to wipe out most or all of our current
snow cover, chances for a white Christmas are looking dismal.

- Izzi

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1055 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

Forecast concerns for the terminals...

- Breezy northwest winds gusting 20-25 kts tonight.

- LLWS late Sunday night into Monday morning.

An arctic high will continue to move into the area tonight into
the day on Sunday. The high will keep skies mostly clear through
the TAF period aside from some lake effect clouds near and east
of GYY which may result in periods of MVFR ceilings. Though
winds will remain breezy tonight with gusts in the 20-25 kts out
of the northwest. While gusts will subside Sunday morning, wind
speeds will remain generally in the 10-12 kt range through the
rest of the TAF period with directions becoming westerly and
eventually southwesterly by Sunday evening.

Finally, there is a threat for low-level wind shear late Sunday
night into Monday morning as a strong (50-55 kt) low-level jet
develops around 1500-2000 ft AGL. While a few 20-25+ kt gusts
may materialize during this period as well, seems the strong
inversion aloft will limit these gusts and thus have excluded
them from the TAFs at this time.

Yack

&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for ILZ003-ILZ004-
     ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010-ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ019-
     ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039-ILZ103-ILZ104-
     ILZ105-ILZ106-ILZ107-ILZ108.

IN...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST /1 PM EST/ Sunday for
     INZ001-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019.

LM...Small Craft Advisory until noon CST Sunday for Winthrop Harbor
     IL to Gary IN.

     Gale Watch from late Sunday night through Monday morning for
     the IL and IN nearshore waters.

     Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM CST Sunday for Gary to Burns
     Harbor IN-Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN.

&&

Visit us at weather.gov/chicago

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 13, 8:00 PM CST, 4 hours before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
800 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-150200-
Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage-
La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford-
Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will-
Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
800 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025 /900 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Elevated Excessive Cold Risk.

DISCUSSION...

Very cold conditions are expected through tonight, with wind
chill values as low as 25 below zero.

Gusty winds could result in some snow drifting back over
previously cleared roads south of I-80 tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Sunday morning...
  Elevated Excessive Cold Risk.
Sunday afternoon through Monday morning...
  Limited Excessive Cold Risk.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotter activation will not be necessary through tonight.

LMZ740>745-150200-
Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL-
Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island IL-
Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor IL-
Calumet Harbor IL to Gary IN-Gary to Burns Harbor IN-
Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN-
800 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Illinois
nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and the Indiana nearshore
waters of Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Hazardous conditions for small craft.
  Elevated Freezing Spray Risk.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Sunday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.
  Elevated Freezing Spray Risk.
Monday...
  Gale force winds are possible.
Tuesday and Wednesday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.
Thursday...
  Gale force winds are possible.
Friday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.

Borchardt

Visit us at www.weather.gov/chicago

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 13, 6:34 PM CST, 5 hours 26 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
634 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0632 PM     Snow             Gibson City             40.47N 88.38W
12/13/2025  E7.0 Inch        Ford               IL   Public

            Relayed via broadcast media.

&&

ZY

Local storm report, Dec 13, 6:35 PM CST, 5 hours 25 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
635 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0632 PM     Snow             3 WSW Woodworth         40.64N 87.89W
12/13/2025  E4.0 Inch        Iroquois           IL   Public

            Relayed via broadcast media.

&&

ZY

Local storm report, Dec 13, 6:36 PM CST, 5 hours 24 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
636 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0634 PM     Snow             Chatsworth              40.75N 88.29W
12/13/2025  E5.0 Inch        Livingston         IL   Public

            Relayed via broadcast media.

&&

ZY

Local storm report, Dec 13, 11:22 PM CST, 38 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
1122 PM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     Snow             1 NW Ottawa             41.36N 88.86W
12/13/2025  M1.3 Inch        La Salle           IL   Cocorahs

            Cocorahs station IL-LS-1 Ottawa.

0300 PM     Snow             3 N Carbon Hill         41.34N 88.30W
12/13/2025  M0.9 Inch        Grundy             IL   Cocorahs

            Cocorahs station IL-GY-1 Carbon Hill 3 N.

&&

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

25 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Kane

When: December 14, 12:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Kane forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.939, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Kendall

When: December 14, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Kendall forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.591, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Livingston

When: December 14, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.892, -88.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ford

When: December 14, 12:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Ford forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.597, -88.223 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Iroquois

When: December 14, 12:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Iroquois forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.747, -87.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Winnebago

When: December 14, 1:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.336, -89.161 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Boone

When: December 14, 1:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.323, -88.823 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, McHenry

When: December 14, 1:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.324, -88.452 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ogle

When: December 14, 1:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Ogle forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.043, -89.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Lee

When: December 14, 1:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.746, -89.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, De Kalb

When: December 14, 1:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.894, -88.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, La Salle

When: December 14, 1:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: La Salle forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.344, -88.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Kankakee

When: December 14, 1:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Kankakee forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.138, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Central Cook County

When: December 14, 2:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Central Cook County forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.895, -87.646 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Lake

When: December 14, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.349, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Du Page

When: December 14, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Du Page forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.852, -88.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Northern Cook County

When: December 14, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Cook County forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.895, -87.646 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Southern Cook County

When: December 14, 3:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Cook County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.895, -87.646 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Grundy

When: December 14, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.285, -88.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Northern Will County

When: December 14, 3:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Will County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.445, -87.979 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Southern Will County

When: December 14, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Will County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.445, -87.979 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Eastern Will County

When: December 14, 3:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Eastern Will County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.445, -87.979 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Livingston

When: December 15, 1:00 AM CST to 5:00 AM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.892, -88.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ford

When: December 15, 1:00 AM CST to 5:00 AM CST
Where: Ford forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.597, -88.223 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Iroquois

When: December 15, 1:00 AM CST to 5:00 AM CST
Where: Iroquois forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.747, -87.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill: Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2025 Every state in 2025 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, December 2025

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1302813, 1302821, 1302831, 1302832, 1302843, 1302804, 1302805, 1302806, 1302808, 1302809, 1302811, 1302820, 1302837, 1302816, 1302807, 1302814, 1302815, 1302818, 1302824, 1302827, 1302828, 1302829, 1302858, 1302860, 1302862.