Snow Day History in Illinois
Will schools close in Illinois tomorrow? Live snow day probability for 15 Illinois cities, updated every 30 minutes.
Illinois Winter Profile
Illinois sits in the classic mid-latitude winter belt — enough snow to regularly close schools, not enough to build infrastructure for it. Across the 15 Illinois cities covered by SnowSense™, average annual snowfall is 31 inches. Chicago receive up to 37 inches in a typical winter; lower-latitude cities like Decatur see closer to 22.
School-closure decisions in Illinois often hinge on precipitation type as much as accumulation. Storms that cross the region frequently transition from snow to sleet to freezing rain and back, and the difference between a four-inch snow event and a one-inch ice-glaze event is invisible until the storm arrives. Districts tend to close preemptively when ice risk is in the forecast.
Pick a city above to see live snow day probability for your specific Illinois location. SnowSense™ refreshes every 30 minutes with live NWS forecast data, ice-risk modeling, and Illinois-calibrated closure thresholds.
No storm events on record for Illinois in our current dataset. Check the NOAA Storm Events Database for comprehensive historical records.
Illinois Cities — Storm History
FAQ — Illinois Snow Day History
What was the biggest snowstorm in Illinois?
Illinois has limited storm event data in our current dataset. Check the NOAA Storm Events Database for comprehensive historical records.
How many snow days does Illinois get per year?
Illinois averages 31 inches of snow per year, with most districts using 3–7 snow days annually. Ice events can consume multiple snow days at once.