It’s not your imagination—this winter in Chicago has been the coldest in 12 years according to recent meteorological data!
Here’s a look at the numbers and what they mean for the rest of the season.
December-January temps well below average
Data from the National Weather Service shows that mean average temperatures throughout December and January were well below the standard for Chicago.
The mean average temperature for December landed at 27 degrees, 3.5 degrees below normal. The mean average temp for January was a bone chilling 21.9 degrees, 3.3 degrees below normal.
Altogether, mean temperatures are 3.5 degrees below average since the beginning of meteorological winter.
Precipitation levels in December also fell outside the norm, at 9.5 inches of snow, 1.9 inches above average. Snow totals in January were exactly average at 11.3 inches.
Record-breaking cold and precipitation
Winter 2025-26 is officially the coldest on record since 2013-14, according to a report from WGN.
December 2025 was the first December in Chicago since 2016 to experience below normal temperatures and above average snowfall simultaneously, according to the NWS.
Additionally, the daily high in Chicago has stayed below the freezing mark since January 16, marking 19 consecutive days of sub-freezing temperatures, according to WGN.
In summary, winter 2025-26 has been one for the books, and with roughly six weeks to go, the question remains: are we in for another significant snow storm or visit from the polar vortex? Stay tuned to find out!