“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” the holiday tune by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne blasts from radios every December. This year, the lyrics felt more like a forecast than a song. Illinois has been shaken by the amount of snow coming in, which is breaking records.
Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist, said that “Grayslake… has picked up about 12 and 15 inches of snow so far this season”, an amount that has already broken local records. For residents, the snowfall brought both excitement and frustration because of the unexpected road delays.
Historically, Ford said that in McHenry, a station reported 10 inches on Dec. 2, 2025. The highest total for that date since the records began in 1985. Elgin saw 9 inches, setting a mark since 1993 and at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, the totals reached 11.8 inches, so close to the historical mark from 1978.
According to Fox News, approximately 1,400 flights were cancelled or delayed during the storm, leaving travelers frustrated. Northern IL Severe Weather warned on Facebook the morning of Saturday, Nov. 29. They said, “Travel is not advised until tomorrow. The Worst of this storm is to come this evening” This warning scared many.
With icy roads, many citizens of Illinois spent their weekend at home waiting for conditions to improve.
The city road crew worked tirelessly to clear runways and roadways, but there was more snow than ever. These conditions put many who were not prepared in danger. According to NBC 5 News, there were over 400 crashes and 300 roadside service calls during the storm because the snow created dangerous driving situations.
Surrounding areas from the snow over the past 30 days were also significant. Central Illinois recorded 10-15 inches, with some reaching 20 inches. Michigan saw even more, ranging from 20-35 inches.
In the end, the record-breaking snow showed how the weather can quickly turn in Illinois and nearby. While it caused a weekend full of delays and unexpected chaos, it also showed how fast Illinois can persevere and get back on its feet. By Monday, every road was clear, flights resumed, and life returned to normal.
