What Does December Usually Bring?

As we flip the calendar to December, the weather starts to become a little colder and snowier across the region. For Rockford, we average 11.3" of snowfall during the month of December, a total many locations across the area eclipsed with the late November snowstorm we had. In terms of temperatures, our average high in December is near 33°. Meanwhile, our typical low temperature is around 18°. These numbers were achieved after averaging out the numbers from 1981 through 2010, and the graphic is courtesy of the National Weather Service in Chicago.

Also, the month of December begins the start of meteorological winter, which includes the months of December, January and February. So it is fitting that our temperatures decrease and our average snowfall increases. However, this year we are forecasting an above average December with the full effects of this year's El Niño moving in for the month. There is high confidence in seeing warmer than usual temperatures for the entire duration of the month, especially through the middle of the month. That is evident already in our latest extended forecast with high temperatures expected to be in the lower and middle 40's to end this week. By this weekend, high temperatures could flirt with the upper 40's and possibly the 50-degree mark on Saturday under sunny skies.

Regarding precipitation, it is difficult to predict whether or not we will see a lot of snowfall, but it does appear like we will see an average amount of precipitation, whether that fall as rain or snow. As it appears now, January and February also appear to contain above average temperatures and roughly normal precipitation totals.