The most comfortable time to visit Chicago is from mid July to early October, and again in June. For walking, go from mid May to early June. Sunbathing weather is not what it offers.
When to go five ratings · thirty-six ten-day sections · click a cell to read it
Chicago never quite rates Good for sun. It comes closest in early August, at 53, mostly because it is too cool. Avoid mid October to early May for this: it falls to 0, mostly because it is too cool. The clearest skies come in September, when the sky is typically 52% covered at midday (partly cloudy).
The being outside season here runs from mid July to early October, with a second spell in June. It peaks in mid September, at 71. The weakest stretch is from mid November to March, when it drops to 0, mostly because it is too cold.
For walking, go from mid May to early June, with a second spell from late September to early October. It peaks in early October, at 68. Avoid December to mid February for this: it falls to 1, mostly because it is too cold.
The year, measured
The average temperature in Chicago over the whole year is 11°C. July is the hottest month, with highs of about 26°C; January is the coldest, with lows of about -4°C. Chicago has no sharply defined rainy season: the chance of rain on a given day runs from 29% in February, the driest month, to 34% in October, the wettest. Winds in Chicago are highest in March, averaging 6.0 m/s (22 km/h), and lightest in July, at 4.1 m/s (15 km/h). The prevailing wind is from the SW. The clearest skies in Chicago come in August, when the sky is typically 45% covered; January is the cloudiest month, at 69%.
Month by month Chicago climate by month: average temperatures year round · click a month to read it
| Month | High | Low | Feels like | Chance of rain | Cloud | Wind | Being outside | Sun | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2°C | -4°C | -9°C | 29% | 69% | 5.9 m/s | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| February | 1°C | -3°C | -6°C | 29% | 59% | 5.9 m/s | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| March | 6°C | 2°C | -1°C | 33% | 60% | 6.0 m/s | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| April | 11°C | 7°C | 5°C | 33% | 60% | 5.8 m/s | 14 | 0 | 34 |
| May | 17°C | 13°C | 13°C | 34% | 57% | 5.0 m/s | 40 | 9 | 55 |
| June | 24°C | 19°C | 22°C | 31% | 47% | 4.7 m/s | 58 | 30 | 47 |
| July | 26°C | 22°C | 26°C | 32% | 46% | 4.1 m/s | 56 | 49 | 27 |
| August | 26°C | 21°C | 25°C | 32% | 45% | 4.2 m/s | 61 | 45 | 31 |
| September | 23°C | 17°C | 21°C | 31% | 47% | 4.6 m/s | 66 | 24 | 56 |
| October | 15°C | 11°C | 11°C | 34% | 54% | 5.4 m/s | 30 | 3 | 56 |
| November | 7°C | 4°C | 1°C | 31% | 58% | 5.8 m/s | 4 | 0 | 21 |
| December | 2°C | -1°C | -4°C | 32% | 65% | 5.7 m/s | 0 | 0 | 5 |
High and low are the warmest and coolest of four readings a day — midnight, 6am, noon and 6pm — so a true overnight low can sit a degree or two under them. Chance of rain, cloud and wind are the day’s average; feels-like and the three ratings (each out of 100: Good from 55, Ideal from 80) are read at midday.
Seasons, and the year in short Chicago weather by season
Year round, Chicago has days of about -2°C at their warmest in January, its coolest month, and 26°C in July, its warmest; the coolest hours of the day run from -4°C to 22°C through the year, and the average temperature over the year is 11°C around the clock. Rain is most likely around October and least likely around February. Every figure here is a decade of observations blended into one representative year, so it reads as what this date is usually like, not a forecast for one particular day.
Chicago weather in winterDecember to February
Winter in Chicago has typical daily highs of about 0°C and lows of about -2°C, with a 30% chance of rain on a given day.
Chicago weather in springMarch to May
Spring in Chicago has typical daily highs of about 11°C and lows of about 7°C, with a 33% chance of rain on a given day.
Chicago weather in summerJune to August
Summer in Chicago has typical daily highs of about 25°C and lows of about 21°C, with a 32% chance of rain on a given day.
Chicago weather in autumnSeptember to November
Autumn in Chicago has typical daily highs of about 15°C and lows of about 11°C, with a 32% chance of rain on a given day.
When is the rainy season in Chicago?
Chicago has no sharply defined rainy season: the chance of rain on a given day runs from 29% in February, the driest month, to 34% in October, the wettest.
What time of year is Chicago windiest?
Winds in Chicago are highest in March, averaging 6.0 m/s (22 km/h), and lightest in July, at 4.1 m/s (15 km/h). The prevailing wind is from the SW.
What is the average temperature in Chicago year round?
The average temperature in Chicago over the whole year is 11°C. July is the hottest month, with highs of about 26°C; January is the coldest, with lows of about -4°C.
Where to go instead in early January, the weakest time here for being outside
How this is worked out
Every figure is a decade of weather-station observations blended into one typical year, in ten-day sections. The ratings, the chart and the feels-like column are read at midday local solar time. Being outside is the Easy outdoors rating, Sun is Sunbathing and Walking is Active outdoors, each out of 100: Good from 55, Ideal from 80. They describe what a time of year is usually like here, not a forecast. The dotted links open the map at that time of year; set its time of day to midday to see these numbers.