Municipal bid Wheaton's 2026–27 road salt price: $74.33 a tonPublished price A contractor price list shows $135 a ton white and $175 treated, FOB Lemont2014 shortage Chicago-area salt hit about $200 a ton in February 2014, up from about $50NOAA normal O'Hare averages about 38.4 inches of snow a seasonEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during itMunicipal bid Wheaton's 2026–27 road salt price: $74.33 a tonPublished price A contractor price list shows $135 a ton white and $175 treated, FOB Lemont2014 shortage Chicago-area salt hit about $200 a ton in February 2014, up from about $50NOAA normal O'Hare averages about 38.4 inches of snow a seasonEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during it

Price figures are estimates from public bids and published price lists, not quotes. Where these numbers come from

Home › Snow & Ice Guide › How a Chicagoland winter unfolds

How a Chicagoland winter unfolds

O'Hare and Rockford snowfall, freeze-thaw counts and the season month by month.

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A Chicago suburban winter brings steady snow, lake-effect bands, deep cold snaps and frequent freeze-thaw. Here's how a typical season tends to go. Any given year can differ.

Snowfall and freeze-thaw

PlaceAverage seasonal snowfallFreeze-thaw days a year
Chicago (O'Hare)38.4 in69.9

Snowfall: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals.1 Freeze-thaw days: our count of days with a high above 32°F and a low below 32°F in NOAA GHCN-Daily records, 1991–2020 average.2

The season, month by month

November: line up supply

First freezes. Pre-buy and fill your pile.

December: first snows

Pavement still warm. Brine ahead; rock salt works on most events.

January to February: deep cold

Polar air can drop pavement below rock salt's comfort zone. Treated salt and calcium.

March: freeze-thaw

Warm days, cold nights. Melt from piles refreezes.

Next in the guideStorm-readiness checklist →

Sources

  1. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals
  2. NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily (GHCN-Daily), station daily max/min temperatures 1991–2020

Figures are quoted from the sources above. Conditions on your sites vary; follow product labels and your own calibration.

Talk to real snow people

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Talk to people who've run plows at 3 a.m. We know what it's like when the shed is empty, the radar is lit up and your clients expect dry walks by 7. Tell us what you need, and you'll get a straight answer and a written quote, not a sales pitch.

  • Fast delivery. Bulk dropped at your site, sized to your season, so you don't need a salt barn.
  • Storm-night loading. Extended loading hours when a big event hits.
  • Storm-priority list. Get in line for resupply before the storm, not during it.
  • See it first. Ask for a yard visit and see the treated salt in person.
  • Fall pre-buy and seasonal contracts. Lock in tons before the first flake.

Quotes are answered by a wholesale supplier serving DuPage, Kane, Northwest Cook and the Chicago suburbs. Final prices, minimums and delivery area are on your written quote.

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