Lake-Effect Snow in Illinois
Every lake-effect snow event the National Weather Service has filed in Illinois, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.
The most significant on the map
The most significant lake-effect snow episodes in Illinois.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 12
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Damage
- None recorded
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Lake-Effect Snow in Illinois, January 2, 2014From December 31st to January 1st, a snow storm brought 2 to 6 inches of snow to the Chicago metro area. Immediately behind this system, scattered lake effect snow showers began to impact portions of northeastern Illinois.
- Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Illinois, January 28, 2022Lake effect snow developed over far northeast Illinois including Chicago during the early morning of January 28th and continued into the afternoon. A band of heavy lake effect snow moved across parts of Cook County producing snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.
- Lake-Effect Snow in Illinois, December 25 to 26, 2010Lake effect snow developed across northeast Illinois during the afternoon hours of December 25th and continued into the early morning hours of December 26th. The snow was heavy at times with visibilities reduced to a quarter mile or less.
- Lake-Effect Snow in Illinois, January 20 to 21, 2014A low pressure system brought light snow to northeast Illinois during the afternoon of January 20th, but by mid evening, a single-band of Lake effect snow developed, taking aim on far eastern Lake County and portions of Cook County.
- Lake-Effect Snow in Illinois, March 13 to 14, 2017A quick-moving system on Sunday night, March 12 into early Monday, March 13, brought widespread snow, then lake effect snow started Monday night and persisted through Tuesday, March 14.
More
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.