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In Chicago, snow seasons are tracked from July through the following June. The area normally can expect 38.4 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Chicago was warmer than average during the 2022-23 season due to a La Niña climate system, which meant snow was scarce. Only 20.2 inches of snow fell at O’Hare International Airport, which is the city’s official recording site.
The most snow Chicago has ever received in one season was 89.7 inches during 1978-79. The least — 9.8 inches — occurred in 1920-21.
Here’s a look back at how our current snowfall compares with previous seasons.
[ Chicago weather: Here’s what’s normal for fall’s first freeze and first snow ]
[ Chicago’s 10 largest snowfalls since 1886 — and how the Tribune covered them ]
Data is updated as of Jan. 1, 2024.
Sources: National Weather Service Chicago; Tribune archives and reporting
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