Chicago
Overall the month of November ended up fairing a tad bit warmer than average, with the average temperature for the month being 42.9°F (1.6° warmer than normal). Despite the general warmth of the month, the region met the normal snowfall for the month, recording 1.8” of snow (equal to the normal). While the snow was on par for this point in the season, overall precipitation fell well short of normal, with 0.86” of precipitation reported (typically 2.42”).
Following a departing wintry event that closed out October, November started off on the cooler side in the Chicago area as highs began in the 40s. This cooler spell was brief, with temperatures steadily trending into the 50s and 60s through the first week. Outside of a few sprinkles on the 3rd, the start of the month was dry. Temperatures reached their warmest on the 6th with a high of 69°F.
The first batch of more organized rain returned on the 8th in the form of rain showers. Temperatures cooled a bit from their peak earlier in the week, settling into the 50s. Drier weather then returned and persisted through the middle of the month with temperatures consistent in the 50s before warming a bit from the 13th to the 17th when highs returned to the 60s. A few rain showers then returned on the 16th and 17th.
A more organized system worked through the area on the 20th and 21st, bringing with it a period of steadier rainfall. The 21st proved to be the rainiest day of the month, with 0.44” of rain reported at O’Hare. Temperatures turned more seasonable for this time of year on the backside of the system, with daytime temperatures cooling into the 40s.
After a quiet stretch through much of the month in regard to wintry precipitation, snow returned to the Chicagoland area on the 26th with the passage of another system. With temperatures cooled into the 30s, snowfall totals across the region ranged from 1.5” to 2.0” across the region, with O’Hare reporting 1.8” by the event’s end. On average, O’Hare sees its first 1” event on December 7th, so in spite of the generally quieter start to the season the area made up for it by having an earlier one-inch event.
Interstate 80 covered with snow during the November 26th wintry event. Courtesy of NWS Chicago.
Behind the system temperatures remained on the cooler side, dipping as low as the 20s for the 27th and 28th as flurries lingered in the area at times. The 28th had the coldest daytime high of the month at 24°F. This cold snap was brief, with temperatures climbing back into the low 50s by month’s end.
Indianapolis
Similar to other parts of the Midwest, temperatures averaged warmer than normal in the Indianapolis area with an average temperature of 45.2°F (1.9° warmer than normal). Precipitation and snowfall fell short of normal, with a trace of snow reported for the month (typically November sees 0.8”). Overall precipitation also fell short, with 0.93” reported (typically 3.45”).
After a cool start to the month with highs in the 40s, temperatures steadily rose through the first week of November as highs climbed into the 60s and even the 70s. The unseasonable warmth came to a head on the 8th with a high of 78°F. Outside of an isolated rain shower on the 3rd, this period was also noted by extended duration of drier conditions.
Rain showers returned the 8th and 9th, cooling highs back into the 50s. Once this period of showers exited, drier weather persisted through the middle of the month as highs again trended warmer, reaching into the 60s for a time at the mid-point.
A more organized disturbance on the 17th brought with it a better shot of rain and produced the month’s rainiest day with 0.31” of rainfall. More rain showers returned on the 20th and 21st. A cooling trend began to set in starting on the 24th as daytime temperatures slipped into the 40s and later the 30s. A system on the 26th was largely a rain event for the Indianapolis area, though some snow mixed in for a time producing a trace of wintry precipitation.
In spite of the lack of snow associated with the storm on the 26th, colder air filtered in on its backside cooling the region down into the 20s for a time. The 28th had the coldest daytime high, sitting at 26°F. A brief snow shower passed through during this cold spell, however accumulations were again not measurable. Warmer temperatures then followed, with the month closing out with highs in the upper 50s by the 30th. Drier conditions prevailed through the end of the month with only a nuisance rain shower passing through on the 30th.
Despite the lack of snow seen in Indianapolis this November, a few snow shower events return to the area heading into December as climatological winter precipitation begins to ramp up.
Ohio
November saw temperatures average warmer than normal across the region, with Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati having a monthly average temperature of 44.2°F (0.6 warmer than normal), 44.7°F (0.6° warmer than normal), and 46.1°F (1.7° warmer than normal), respectively. Precipitation and snowfall was also below average for all three cities. November snowfall was not measurable in Columbus and Dayton (where 1.2” and 0.8” are typically seen), and Cincinnati had no snow at all during the month (where 0.8” of snow is normal). Precipitation in general also fell short, with Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati measuring 1.89” (normal 2.79”), 1.56” (normal 3.07”), and 1.39” (normal 3.23”), respectively.
The first week of the month was dry across the region as highs quickly warmed from the 40s on the 1st to the 60s and 70s by week’s end. The unseasonable heat came to a head on the 8th when all three cities saw their warmest day of the month (Columbus: 73°, Dayton: 77°, Cincinnati: 79°). Cincinnati’s high of 79°F tied the day’s record high set in 2020. After peaking, temperatures then returned to the 50s and 60s.
The quieter stretch of weather came to a brief end on the 9th in the form of a few rain showers that mainly favored Dayton and Columbus. Drier conditions then returned and prevailed through the middle of the month. A system on the 17th brought wetter conditions and produced the rainiest day of the month for Dayton with 0.76”. Another system on the 21st brought steadier rain to the region, with Columbus and Cincinnati both seeing their rainiest day with 0.93” and 0.77”, respectively.
Through this time temperatures had remained steady in the 50s and 60s. In wake of the system on the 21st, temperatures slipped into the 40s and later into the 30s. Some showers on the 26th mixed with wet snow in Columbus and Dayton, however snowfall was not measurable. Daytime highs reached their coldest on the 28th (Columbus: 30°, Dayton: 28°, Cincinnati: 32°).
Colder temperatures quickly rebounded to close out the month as highs warmed to the mid to upper 50s by the 30th. Conditions remained quiet, too. While snowfall remained on the low end (or didn’t occur) in November, climatological average indicate higher totals heading into December as winter begins to ramp up.
