Chicago weather: Biggest snowstorm of season to hit this week

CHICAGO - Two significant snowstorms loom ahead this week with disruption to travel and commerce likely. 

Fox 32 Meteorologist Mike Caplan has the forecast.

Snow is on the way

What to expect:

Monday will be rather tranquil with mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid-30s. 

There’s a small chance for some very light snow Monday night and Tuesday, but little more than a dusting is possible, and many areas will get bupkis.

This graphic shows the snow potential on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (FOX Weather / FOX Weather)

What's next:

The forecast focus needs to be on Wednesday and Saturday, as significant snowstorms are likely on both days. By significant, I mean at least 4 inches and possibly more than a half foot on each occasion.

Recent runs of various computer models are in lock step for disruptive snowfall on Wednesday. The current consensus is for 5" to 10" of snowfall area wide with a bias for greater impacts in the afternoon than for the morning commute.

It must be stressed that these numbers remain preliminary and are subject to fluctuations as the event nears. We will continue to refine the timing and amounts as the storm draws near.

Another storm to impact some weekend plans

This graphic shows the snow potential across the U.S. (FOX Weather / FOX Weather)

The last storm, for now, is expected to take shape late this week and continue into the weekend, bringing yet another round of winter weather to cities from the Plains to New England.

The FOX Forecast Center said this relentless winter weather pattern could continue into next week, but it’s still too soon to know that for certain.

Little snowfall so far

By the numbers:

Here is a graphic showing the snowiest Februarys on record in Chicago.

Here is a graphic showing the snowiest Februarys on record in Chicago.

So far this month, we’ve had a whopping 0.1 inches of snowfall. About 10 inches is the average snowfall for the month of February.  

Why am I sharing this? Because there are some lofty projections of snowfall being shown on computer models for the remainder of the month.  This includes the two storms this week and possibly another one next week.  

In a winter which has produced less than one-third of the average snowfall through February 10, that deficit may be erased in the next week and half.