Our verdict
The best time to visit Chicago is September-November
In summer, the average maximum temperature is around 25℃ (77℉), but temperatures can sometimes reach as high as 27℃ (81℉) on the hottest days of the year. The weather at night in the winter, which is around January-time, can get down to a minimum of -11℃ (12℉).
If you’re keen to see the sights of Chicago during the day, the sun stays up the longest around July. On average it rains the most days in June, making it the wettest month of the year. Although it’s the wet season, it can often rain a little bit during the day or evening but have fine weather for a majority of the day too, so don’t let this put you off.
Learn everything you need to know (and none of the stuff you don’t) about when to go to Chicago below. Be sure to check out the handy tools we’ve included to help you search for flights and transport, accommodation, and everything else you need to plan and book your trip.
Quick links: Fast facts / Seasons / Average temperatures / Monthly climate / FAQs / Map
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Chicago seasons
Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Chicago as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Chicago is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Summer | June to August |
| Autumn/fall | September to November |
| Winter | December to February |
| Spring | March to May |
Average temperatures in Chicago
If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Chicago for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.
Chicago climate by month
If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Chicago for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.
Jump to:
Chicago in January
- Average temperature: -4℃ (25℉)
- Average high temperature: -1℃ (30℉)
- Average low temperature: -6℃ (21℉)
- Average humidity: 82%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 45mm (2") over 7 days
- Average snow days: 11 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in January, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Chicago in February
- Average temperature: -2℃ (28℉)
- Average high temperature: 0℃ (32℉)
- Average low temperature: -5℃ (23℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 46mm (2") over 6 days
- Average snow days: 10 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in February, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Chicago in March
- Average temperature: 3℃ (37℉)
- Average high temperature: 5℃ (42℉)
- Average low temperature: 0℃ (32℉)
- Average humidity: 77%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 54mm (2") over 12 days
- Average snow days: 6 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in March, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Chicago in April
- Average temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average high temperature: 10℃ (51℉)
- Average low temperature: 5℃ (40℉)
- Average humidity: 77%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 94mm (4") over 17 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in April, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Chicago in May
- Average temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
- Average high temperature: 16℃ (61℉)
- Average low temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average humidity: 79%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 117mm (5") over 18 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in May, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Chicago in June
- Average temperature: 18℃ (65℉)
- Average high temperature: 21℃ (70℉)
- Average low temperature: 15℃ (60℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 10 days
- Average rainfall: 122mm (5") over 17 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in June, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.
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Chicago in July
- Average temperature: 22℃ (72℉)
- Average high temperature: 25℃ (77℉)
- Average low temperature: 20℃ (67℉)
- Average humidity: 79%
- Average sunny days: 9 days
- Average rainfall: 101mm (4") over 18 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in July, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Chicago in August
- Average temperature: 22℃ (72℉)
- Average high temperature: 25℃ (77℉)
- Average low temperature: 20℃ (67℉)
- Average humidity: 77%
- Average sunny days: 10 days
- Average rainfall: 103mm (4") over 17 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in August, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Chicago in September
- Average temperature: 19℃ (66℉)
- Average high temperature: 22℃ (71℉)
- Average low temperature: 16℃ (61℉)
- Average humidity: 75%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 82mm (3") over 15 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in September, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.
Chicago in October
- Average temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
- Average high temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
- Average low temperature: 10℃ (49℉)
- Average humidity: 73%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 79mm (3") over 14 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in October, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Chicago in November
- Average temperature: 5℃ (42℉)
- Average high temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average low temperature: 3℃ (37℉)
- Average humidity: 74%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 46mm (2") over 11 days
- Average snow days: 4 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in November, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Chicago in December
- Average temperature: 0℃ (32℉)
- Average high temperature: 2℃ (36℉)
- Average low temperature: -2℃ (28℉)
- Average humidity: 80%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 42mm (2") over 9 days
- Average snow days: 8 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Chicago in December, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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