El Niño Could Mean A Milder Chicago Winter, Snow Still Possible

NOAA projects a strong El Niño could push Chicago toward a warmer-than-usual fall and winter, with a greater than 90% chance of a “very strong” El Niño this fall/winter and a 69% chance of a historic event for Oct–Dec. Chicago has a 40–50% chance of above-normal winter temperatures, though snow and severe cold can still occur; snowfall is not Guaranteed to be low—some El Niño winters see above-average snow. Precipitation chances are roughly equal for above/near/below average, and El Niño’s broader global impacts can be significant beyond Chicago.