The first of multiple Arctic blasts expected this month brought record-low temperatures across the Midwest on Thursday, December 4, 2025, with reports of over 40 record lows for the day. More record lows are expected as the Arctic wave moves through the Northeast on Friday, December 5.
A post-Thanksgiving winter storm dropped record snow in St. Louis and parts of the Midwest on Saturday, November 29, 2025, causing a Delta flight to slide off the runway in Des Moines and triggering hundreds of crashes and multi-vehicle pileups on major interstate highways, including I-70 and I-80.
Powerful bands of lake-effect snow brought traffic on parts of Interstate 57 (I-57) south of Chicago, Illinois, to a standstill amid whiteout conditions on the morning of November 10, 2025. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned drivers to use extreme caution as snowfall rates exceeded 7 cm/h (3 in/h) in localized bands, producing near-zero visibility and hazardous travel across portions of northeastern Illinois.
Multiple school districts across Chicago and northwest Indiana announced closures, delays, or transitions to e-learning for Monday, November 10, 2025, due to a powerful storm that brought the region’s first snow of the season.
Severe thunderstorms caused flash floods across the Chicago metropolitan area on Friday, July 25, 2025, with over 150 mm (6 inches) of rainfall reported in Bridgeview within just two hours.
A violent tornado struck south of Marion in Williamson County, Illinois between 18:00 and 19:00 CDT on May 16, 2025, prompting the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a rare tornado emergency for the area. The tornado destroyed homes near Market Road, caused significant structural damage across southern Marion, and formed part of a broader Midwest outbreak that killed at least 16 people.
The first-ever Dust Storm Warning for the Chicago metro area was issued on May 16, 2025, as winds of up to 113 km/h (70 mph) carried dust into the city. The storm reduced visibility to near zero and affected major routes across Chicago and surrounding areas.
Winter Storm Watch has been issued for Chicago ahead of an impactful winter storm set to sweep through the region on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The storm could bring snow totals of up to 20 cm (8 inches) in some areas and create dangerous travel conditions.
A massive multi-vehicle crash involving around 40 vehicles, including semitrailers, forced the closure of Interstate 70 near Greenup, Illinois, during a winter storm on January 5, 2025. The Illinois State Police (ISP) confirmed the highway would remain shut for hours with traffic diverted to U.S. Route 40.
Frost and subfreezing temperatures are forecast for northern Illinois through the nights of October 15 and 16, 2024.
