History of 10 inch or greater Snow storms in Chicago

Since snow records began in 1886 in Chicago, there have been 41 winter storms that produced 10 inches or more of snow. A 10 inch snow occurs about once every 3 years. A 15 inch snow occurs only once about every 19 years. The closest back to back 10 inch snows were March 25-26 and April 1-2, 1970 (6 days apart). The longest period of time without a 10 inch snow or greater was February 12, 1981 to January 1, 1999 (almost 18 years). The earliest 10 inch snow was November 25-26, 1895 and the latest 10 inch snow was April 1-2, 1970. The most recent 10 inch snow was January 21-23, 2005.

Chicago's 10 biggest Snowstorms:

  1. 23.0 inches Jan 26-27, 1967
  2. 21.6 inches Jan 1-3, 1999
  3. 19.2 inches Mar 25-26, 1930
  4. 18.8 inches Jan 13-14, 1979
  5. 16.2 inches Mar 7-8, 1931
  6. 15.0 inches Dec 17-20, 1929
  7. 14.9 inches Jan 30, 1939
  8. 14.9 inches Jan 6-7, 1918
  9. 14.3 inches Mar 25-26, 1970
  10. 14.0 inches Jan 18-20, 1886
Snowfall of 10 Inches or More for the Calendar Day
January 2, 1999 18.6 inches December 12, 1903
11.3 inches
January 13, 1979 16.5 inches February 18, 2000
11.1 inches
January 26, 1967 16.4 inches February 3, 1896
11.0 inches
January 30, 1939 14.9 inches December 20, 1960
11.0 inches
January 6, 1918 14.4 inches December 10, 1934
10.9 inches
March 25, 1930 13.6 inches March 7, 1931
10.9 inches
March 2, 1954 11.5 inches February 3, 1901
10.8 inches
February 18, 1908 11.5 inches December 23, 1961
10.2 inches
February 28, 1900 11.3 inches December 27, 1894
10.1 inches
    Deember 14, 1951
10.0 inches

Snowfall of 10 Inches or More - Storm Total
January 21-23, 2005 11.2 inches
January 30-31, 2002 12.0 inches
February 18, 2000 11.1 inches
January 1-3, 1999 21.6 inches
February 10-11, 1981 11.2 inches
January 13-14, 1979 18.8 inches
February 6-7, 1978 10.3 inches
January 25-27, 1978 12.4 inches
January 9-10, 1977 10.9 inches
April 1-2, 1970 10.7 inches
March 25-26, 1970 14.3 inches
December 22-23, 1969 11.3 inches
January 26-27, 1967 23.0 inches
February 23-25, 1965 11.5 inches
December 22-23, 1961 11.7 inches
December 19-20, 1960 12.5 inches
March 2-3, 1954 11.8 inches
December 14, 1951 10.0 inches
December 5-8, 1950 13.3 inches
December 10-11, 1944 10.9 inches
January 30, 1939 14.9 inches
December 9-10, 1934 11.3 inches
February 6-7, 1933 12.7 inches
March 7-8, 1931 16.2 inches
March 25-26, 1930 19.2 inches
December 17-20, 1929 15.0 inches
March 30-31, 1926 12.6 inches
January 6-7, 1918 14.9 inches
January 12-14, 1910 10.2 inches
February 18-19, 1908 12.8 inches
December 12-13, 1903 11.6 inches
February 3-5, 1901 12.7 inches
February 28, 1900 11.3 inches
March 23-24, 1897 10.0 inches
February 12-13, 1896 12.0 inches
February 3-4, 1896 12.5 inches
November 25-26, 1895 12.0 inches
February 6-7, 1895 13.4 inches
December 27, 1894 10.1 inches
February 12-14, 1894 11.0 inches
January 18-20, 1886 14.0 inches
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