Summary (tl;dr)

A powerful winter storm brought record-setting snowfall to Chicago and much of Illinois over the Thanksgiving weekend, causing extensive travel disruptions and hazardous conditions.

Essential Background

The Midwest, including Illinois, was bracing for a major winter storm during the busy post-Thanksgiving travel period. The National Weather Service had issued winter storm warnings across the Northern Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes, forecasting significant snowfall and dangerous driving conditions from Friday, November 28, through Sunday, November 30, 2025. This storm was anticipated to impact millions of travelers returning home from the holiday.

The Full Story

A "historic November storm" delivered heavy snow to Chicago and other parts of Illinois throughout the last weekend of November 2025. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport recorded 8.4 inches of snow on Saturday, November 29, alone, marking it as the snowiest November day on record for the city. Widespread snowfall totals of 6 to 8 inches were common across the area, with some locations in the Chicago area reporting up to 11 inches. The heavy snow and gusty winds, reaching up to 30 mph, significantly reduced visibility and created treacherous road conditions across Illinois. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Illinois State Police warned against unnecessary travel due to slick, slippery roads and much longer travel times. Road accidents were reported, including nearly 500 auto crashes in the Chicago area on Saturday, with 66 involving injuries.

The storm severely impacted air travel, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays. Over 1,250 flights were canceled at Chicago O'Hare International Airport by the evening of November 29, with a ground delay program causing average delays of 451 minutes. On Sunday, November 30, more than 4,600 flights across the United States were delayed, with over 570 cancellations, and over 25% of these delays were to or from Chicago's O'Hare.

Why It Matters

This winter storm significantly disrupted the crucial post-Thanksgiving travel period, affecting millions of individuals returning home. The record snowfall and hazardous conditions caused substantial delays and cancellations for both air and road travel, leading to considerable inconvenience and potential safety risks. The need for emergency services to respond to numerous accidents and the deployment of extensive resources for snow removal highlight the major impact on infrastructure and public safety. Furthermore, the forecast of continued cold temperatures and additional snowfall in the coming days means that lingering travel disruptions and challenging conditions are expected to persist.

Geographic Location

• Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States (record snowfall, flight cancellations and delays)
• O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States (over 1,250 flight cancellations, significant delays)
• Northern Illinois, Illinois, United States (widespread heavy snow, hazardous road conditions)
• Central Illinois, Illinois, United States (heavy snow, hazardous road conditions)
• Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, United States (city declared a Snow Emergency)
• Maryville, Madison County, Illinois, United States (treacherous road conditions reported)
• Wheeling, Cook County, Illinois, United States (up to 11 inches of snow)
• Evanston, Cook County, Illinois, United States (8 inches of snow)
• Oak Brook Terrace, DuPage County, Illinois, United States (8 inches of snow)
• Mount Prospect, Cook County, Illinois, United States (7 inches of snow)
• Aurora, Kane and DuPage Counties, Illinois, United States (7 inches of snow)
• McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois, United States (7 inches of snow)
• Dundee, Kane County, Illinois, United States (vehicles in ditches)
• Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, United States (vehicles in ditches)
• Winnetka, Cook County, Illinois, United States (vehicles in ditches)
• LaPorte County, Indiana, United States (Winter Storm Warning remained in effect, significant snowfall)
• Northwest Indiana, Indiana, United States (lake effect snow, significant snowfall)
• Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, United States (11.5 inches of snow)
• Putnamville, Putnam County, Indiana, United States (45-car pileup on Interstate 70)
• Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, United States (Delta Air Lines plane skidded off runway, significant snowfall)