How Snowy Will 2024-25 Winter be in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois?

On Monday, I knew it would be a bit chillier than usual, but I didn’t check the weather before getting dressed. After wearing my usual summer outfit of short jeans, a t-shirt, and sandals to the office all season, I just threw on my “office uniform” and headed out the door. Let’s just say I froze all day and had to keep my heater on. The rest of the week, I learned my lesson and switched to a sweatshirt, pants, socks, and clogs.

Much to my chagrin, winter is on its way, and these 55-degree days are just the beginning. I remember being a kid and snow always fell in October, but it seems like warm fall days go well into December now. A few years ago, a monster tornado ripped through the Midwest at the end of December because of a warm front that just wouldn't relent. I was curious what kind of snow we usually see in our neck of the woods before looking at what 2024-25 holds and the answer was kind of surprising.

INDIANA, KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, ILLINOIS AVERAGE SNOWFALL TOTALS

Predicting the exact snowfall for winter 2024-2025 in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois can be challenging, but we can look at historical data, current climate patterns, and forecasts from reliable sources like the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. 

Indiana
Snowfall Average: Generally, Indiana sees an average snowfall of about 20-40 inches but it largely depends on the area you live in. For instance, South Bend's average snowfall is 65 inches but Evansville is right above 8 inches.

Kentucky
Snowfall Average: Kentucky typically experiences lighter snowfall, averaging around 10 to 20 inches, with northern regions receiving more. In the Louisville and Lexington area, you can expect 13-14 inches but Owensboroonly receives about 5-6 on average.

Tennessee
Snowfall Average: Snowfall a bit more complicated because of the mountains. Snow is less common in Tennessee, averaging 2 to 6 inches in southern areas, while higher elevations can see more. Crossville sees an average of about 14 inches while Nashville only sees an average of 4-5 inches.

Illinois
Snowfall Average: Illinois,like Indiana is a verticle state so the averages range anywhere from 10 inches in Southern Illinois to 36 inches in the north. Chicago sees upward of 38 inches annually while Mt. Vernon sees less than 10 inches.

READ MORE: How Will the Coming La Niña Winter Affect Kentucky and Indiana?

HOW SNOWY WILL WINTER BE IN THE TRI-STATE IN 2024-25?

NOAA released their annual winter precipitation report, and it looks like all the moisture Mother Nature has been holding back this summer is about to come crashing down as rain and snow in the tri-state area.

In a post by Ohio Valley Weather Watch Certified Forecaster Tony, he shared some insights:

“The seasonal outlook for winter, which hasn’t looked like this in a while, is showing above-normal precipitation expected in our region. If you like snow, this could be good news! There’s a 30%-40% chance of above-normal temperatures.”

He also mentioned that dry air might affect what actually falls. “That’s not bad news, because it can be too cold for snow if the air is too dry. The ideal temperature for accumulating snow is between 28º-32º. We’ll probably get our fair share of rain and some mixed precipitation. But if you’re a snow lover, this winter could be promising, depending on the storm tracks.”

NOAA also released a graphic indicating that our temperatures will probably be average or above average.

Warmer-than-average temperatures are favored from the southern tier of the U.S. to the eastern Great Lakes, eastern seaboard, New England and northern Alaska. These probabilities are strongest along the Gulf Coast and for most of Texas. -NOAA

He cautioned that large amounts of precipitation could come as either rain or snow, noting that snow is generally less dangerous than the chaos that can happen when warm and cold fronts mix. “Let’s not forget that warm-ups can occur, and if it gets too warm, we could see severe thunderstorms. Let’s hope we avoid those typical winter warm-ups. THINK SNOW!!!”

There you have it, folks. Think COLD and SNOW so we don't face dangerous weather. Yikes. Makes you want to move to Montana.

While it's difficult to make specific predictions this far out, keeping an eye on seasonal forecasts from NOAA, and local weather services will provide the most accurate updates as winter approaches. And be sure to download our app and turn on EXCLUSIVES notifications to stay up-to-date with the latest information and closings.

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Want to know more about the 2024-25 winter weather? Check out these great articles:

• Persimmon Prediction: What Kind of Winter Weather Will We Have in 2024
• 2024-2025 Frymire Forecast Predicts Snow on New Year’s Eve