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Cook County · Illinois

Chicago, IL weather averages

NOAA climate normals for 1991-2020, measured at Chicago Univ, 11.5 km from the city centre — month by month temperature, rain and snow.

Quick answer

Chicago averages a daily high of 60.7°F and a daily low of 44.7°F across the year, with 37.96 inches of precipitation. July is the warmest month at 84.6°F and January the coldest at 20.9°F.

Average annual high
60.7°FWarmest month July
Average annual low
44.7°FColdest month January
Precipitation per year
37.96 inWettest month May
Snowfall per year
93.3 days at or below 32°F

Chicago weather month by month

Normal daily high and low, precipitation and snowfall for each month, 1991-2020.

MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip inSnow inRange
January33.820.92.2520.9 to 33.8 degrees
February3824.42.0424.4 to 38 degrees
March47.732.62.7932.6 to 47.7 degrees
April59.641.83.3541.8 to 59.6 degrees
May70.351.74.0751.7 to 70.3 degrees
June80.461.34.0561.3 to 80.4 degrees
July84.667.43.7867.4 to 84.6 degrees
August83.266.63.8166.6 to 83.2 degrees
September76.6593.1359 to 76.6 degrees
October64.847.52.8847.5 to 64.8 degrees
November50.837.73.2337.7 to 50.8 degrees
December37.324.92.5824.9 to 37.3 degrees

Source: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 — station USW00014892, Chicago Univ · rates as published for 1991-2020 normals

How to read Chicago climate normals

What a climate normal is, and what it is not.

A normal is the average of thirty years of daily observations at one station — here Chicago Univ, 11.5 km from the centre of Chicago. It describes a typical year, so any single year will run warmer, cooler, wetter or drier. Readings taken at an airport on the edge of town usually sit a degree or two below a dense downtown on summer nights. Chicago sees about 18.2 days a year at or above 90°F and about 73.9 days with a tenth of an inch of precipitation or more.

Other Chicago data on this site.