Climate in Chicago — Annual Weather Overview
Chicago has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. The hottest month is July (average high 27.2°C) and the coolest is January (1.0°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 26.2°C swing between July highs and January lows. Annual rainfall totals around 1149mm. July is the wettest month at 172.8mm, while November averages just 37.4mm. Average daily sunshine is 8.3 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 13.6°C, 291mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 26.7°C, 388mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 16.6°C, 274mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 2.3°C, 196mm rain.
Chicago — Monthly Temperatures
Chicago — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Chicago stays reasonable all year.
Chicago weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.0°C | -5.8°C | 66.1mm | 4.3h | 9 | 8/10 |
| February | 1.2°C | -7.3°C | 64.3mm | 6.7h | 10 | 8/10 |
| March | 8.5°C | -0.1°C | 89.6mm | 7.3h | 12 | 10/10 |
| April | 13.3°C | 4.0°C | 92.4mm | 8.8h | 14 | 10/10 |
| May | 18.9°C | 10.1°C | 108.9mm | 9.8h | 10 | 9/10 |
| June | 25.9°C | 16.6°C | 103.8mm | 11.8h | 10 | 9/10 |
| July | 27.2°C | 19.3°C | 172.8mm | 11.7h | 11 | 9/10 |
| August | 27.0°C | 19.1°C | 111.8mm | 11.5h | 12 | 9/10 |
| September | 23.5°C | 15.7°C | 106.1mm | 9.5h | 8 | 9/10 |
| October | 16.4°C | 8.8°C | 130.3mm | 7.3h | 14 | 9/10 |
| November | 9.9°C | 1.9°C | 37.4mm | 6.7h | 5 | 10/10 |
| December | 4.8°C | -2.0°C | 65.3mm | 4.7h | 8 | 8/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Chicago. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Chicago have?
Chicago has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. Average highs range from 1.0°C in January to 27.2°C in July.
What is the hottest month in Chicago?
July is the hottest month in Chicago, with average highs of 27.2°C and lows of 19.3°C.
What is the coldest month in Chicago?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of 1.0°C and lows of -7.3°C.
What is the wettest month in Chicago?
July is the wettest month, averaging 172.8mm of rainfall over around 11 rainy days.
How much rain does Chicago get per year?
Chicago receives around 1149mm of rain per year. The driest month is November (37.4mm).
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
The best time to visit Chicago is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Chicago
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.