Chicago
December was warmer than normal for the windy city, with the overall average temperature for the month being 39.0°F (8.5° above average). As a result of this pattern, snowfall for the month fell short of normal, with 1.2" reported at O'Hare the entire month (normal 7.6"). While snowfall was in short supply, overall liquid precipitation exceeded the average, with 2.97" measured (normal 2.11").
The month started off rainy with the 1st being the wettest day, with 0.66" of rainfall measured. Temperatures held in the low to mid 40s through the first several days as unsettled weather persisted in the form of rain showers. A weak system on the 5th brought some slushy accumulations of snow, with O'Hare measuring 0.3".
After nearly a week of unsettled conditions a quieter period began on the 6th, during which time milder conditions arrived and high temperatures warmed into the 50s. This drier duration was short-lived, as rain returned on the 9th with cooler air filtering into the region in its wake. The 10th through the 12th remained in the 30s, with patchy drizzle and a passing flurry around.
Milder and drier conditions returned for several days thereafter heading into the middle of the month. Highs repeatedly reached the 50s once more, with the only break from this pattern being some rain showers on the 16th. A brief cool down the 18th - 19th brought more seasonable temperatures in the 30s, coupled with some snow showers.
A white Christmas was not in the cards this year, as milder conditons set in once more leading up to the holiday. Rain showers returned on the 22nd and again on Christmas Day, the latter of which was also the warmest day of the month with a high of 59°F.
Temperatures gradually cooled in the days that followed, with rain showers persisting for several days after the 25th. More wintry weather returned to close out 2023 with highs in the 30s and persistent snow showers on the 31st that produced 0.9" of snowfall at O'Hare. A pattern change that began to develop into the New Year provided a more favorable setup for a snowier January.
Radar imagery of snow showers the evening of December 31st.
Indianapolis
Similar to other areas in the Midwest, December fared much warmer on average, with an overall temperature of 40.8°F (7.5°F warmer than normal). As a result of unseasonable warmth and an unfavorable pattern, snowfall fell short of what is typical; 0.1" snow fell in Indianapolis the entire month, well below the typical 6.4" seen. Liquid precipitation also fell short, with 1.26" of the normal 2.92" reported.
It was a mild, rainy start to the month for the Indianapolis area. With highs around 50 and 0.3" of rainfall on the 1st (the rainiest day of the month), it felt more like early spring than the start of meteorological winter. Additional rain showers returned the 3rd and 5th as temperatures settled into the 40s.
Warmer conditions returned for a duration from the 7th - 9th with temperatures warming into the 50s and even topping out at 65°F on the 9th (the warmest day of the month) with some thunderstorm activity. Following the passage of these storms, cooler air returned temperatures back to around 40 with a few flurries around on the 10th.
Following a drier period from the 11th to the 15th, during which time highs were in the 50s, unsettled weather returned the 16th and continued in the following days. Activity first started as rain showers before snow showers and squalls developed on the 18th. With most activity occurring during the day, only localized areas saw light accumulations before melting back quickly. Temperatures then settled into the 30s for a brief time 18th - 19th.
A milder airmass returned leading up to Christmas with highs pushing into the 50s and even 60s by the 24th. Despite the unseasonably warm weather, most of this time was unsettled with rain showers around through the holiday. After temperatures peaked on Christmas, cooler air returned highs back to the 40s in the days that followed.
The year ended with seasonable temperatures in the 30s and snow showers around. The "snowiest" day of the month was New Year's Eve, with 0.1" of snow reported.
Ohio
After a dynamic year, 2023 closed with much warmer temperatures than normal. Average temperatures broke down as follows: Columbus - 41.8°F (7.3° above normal), Dayton - 41.7°F (7.4° above normal), and Cincinnati - 41.4°F (5.8° above normal). Unsurprisingly, with such unseasonable warmth snowfall was well below normal, with all three cities only managing to see 0.4' (Columbus) and 0.9" (Dayton, Cincinnati), where 4 - 5" are the norm. Outside of Columbus, where liquid precipitation for the month was near normal, both Dayton and Cincinnati were an inch to nearly two inches below normal.
Rain showers with marginal temperatures in the 50s kicked off the month before cooling into the 40s after the 3rd. Some snow showers passed through Dayton and Columbus on the 5th. A brief period of warmer temperatures returned the 8th and 9th with highest in the 60s. Showers on the 9th produced the highest rainfall of the month, with Columbus and Dayton reporting 0.87" and 0.74", respectively. Cincinnati reported their warmest high of the month on the 8th, reaching 61°F.
Cooler conditions returned for a few days with highs falling through the 40s before settling in the 30s by the 11th. A few snow showers returned to Columbus and Dayton as well. A drier period then developed and with it returned the mild temperatures. Rain showers on the 17th produced the rainiest day of the month in Cincinnati with 0.55".
Widespread snow showers and squalls developed on the 18th, with some heavier squalls passing through Cincinnati and Dayton during the day. All three cities saw their snowiest day, with Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati reporting 0.3", 0.7", and 0.8", respectively. Cooler conditons continued leading up to Christmas with rain showers on the 22nd and 23rd.
Whiteout conditions near Dayton during a snow squall on December 18th.
The holidays trended warmer with Dayton and Columbus seeing their warmest day of the month on Christmas Day, reaching 60°F and 62°F, respectively.
Temperatures cooled once more to the 40s to close out 2023 with showery conditions the 28th. Snow showers on the 30th and 31st brought very minor accumulations.
