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License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'")
Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Chicago for your holiday.
Climate Overview
-11 °C to 29 °C
1.38 – 4.21 in (6 – 10 Days of Rain)Show temperatures in degree
Geographical location
Table of Contents
Chicago is located in the northeast of the state of Illinois. About 2.7 million inhabitants live within the city limits on an area of about 380 square miles. Chicago is also a metropolitan region with a total area of over 17000 square miles and almost 10 million inhabitants.
This results in a population density of 4,615 inhabitants per square kilometre and thus roughly corresponds to the level of Munich (4,600 inhabitants per km²), the statistically most densely populated city in Germany.
Chicago is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan and is the third largest city in the United States. North of the metropolis lies Milwaukee. Chicago is divided into nine community areas, which are divided into 77 districts. Chicago is an important economic center and transportation hub in the United States. Logistics are mainly handled by rail, air and sea.
Climate in Chicago
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Chicago has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. The average temperature is -6.2 °C in January, whereby extreme cold periods with values of -10 to –18 °C are not unusual. In return, the day temperatures from June to August are almost always above 27 °C and easily exceed 30 °C on hot days.
Chicago has a statistical maximum of 10 rainy days per month, the rainy month is usually April. In the warm months of June, July and August the weather is fantastic with up to 10.5 hours of sunshine daily. The highest temperature in Chicago was 41 °C in 1934.
During the North American cold spell in 1985, a minus record of –33 °C was set. This shows the extremes that the continental climate in Chicago (Illinois) can reach. The city on Lake Michigan has around 30 beaches on its shores, which are popular destinations for locals and tourists from all over the world, especially in summer.
Best Time to Visit Chicago: Overview
JanuaryJan Winter often very cold | FebruaryFeb Winter often very cold | MarchMar Suitable time to traveltime but coldbut cold | AprilApr Good time to traveltime but still chillybut cold | MayMay Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Chicago | JuneJun Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Chicago |
JulyJul Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Chicago | AugustAug Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Chicago | SeptemberSep Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Chicago | OctoberOct Good time to traveltime but chillybut chilly | NovemberNov Suitable time to traveltime but coldbut cold | DecemberDec Winter often very cold |
When to go to Chicago?
The humidity in Chicago is quite high all year round, which makes the cold winters and spring months seem even harder. Basically a cosmopolitan city like Chicago is of course open all year round, but the temperatures from November to April can be a real challenge for vacationers.
From May it gets noticeably warmer, the summer months are hot and in autumn Chicago still remains sunny and mild. Accordingly, the best time to travel to Chicago in Illinois is from mid-May to the end of September. October can also be a wonderful time to travel to the city on Lake Michigan in warmer years.
You must have heard of the nickname “Windy City” as Chicago’s nickname. Many travel guides associate this term with the strong wind that often whistles through the skyscrapers of the skyline. However, historians attribute the term “Windy City” more to the windy activities of certain smuggling gangs that were once very common in Chicago. Other sources said that the inhabitants of Cincinnati gave Chicago this somewhat derogatory epithet.
No matter whether it is a small rivalry between Ohio and Illinois or “Windy City” has a completely different origin: The fact is that Chicago is not significantly windier than other coastal cities in the USA according to official weather records and measurements.
Climate Chart Chicago
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Table Chicago
In the following, you will find the climate table for Chicago, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, and Hours of Sunshine.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | -2° | 1° | 8° | 15° | 21° | 26° | 29° | 28° | 24° | 17° | 9° | 1° |
| Night Temperature | -11° | -8° | -2° | 4° | 9° | 14° | 17° | 16° | 12° | 6° | -0° | -7° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 1.53 | 1.36 | 2.69 | 3.64 | 3.32 | 3.78 | 3.66 | 4.22 | 3.82 | 2.41 | 2.92 | 2.47 |
| Rainy days | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature is 9.5 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: July (22.9 °C)
Coldest month: January (-6.2 °C)
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 35.82 inch on 96 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
Months that have possible snowfall: January, February, March, April, November, and December
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, June is the sunniest month with an average of 10.4 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 6.9 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Highlights and Attractions
Basically, Chicago itself already offers a number of great sights, especially in the cultural field, the metropolis is a pioneer. The city is known for its distinctive theatre culture, the Goodman Theatre is not only the focus of the region at Chicago Theatre Week. Important museums such as the Astronomy Museum and the Adler Planetarium as well as the Museum of Science and Industry offer interesting impressions even in bad weather.
Architecturally there are many buildings from the Bauhaus style to admire, not least fascinating are the Lake Point Tower and the Willis Tower as the tallest building in Chicago. The Skydeck Chicago observation deck (in Willis Tower) offers a fascinating panoramic view of the city, Lake Michigan and the surrounding area. Also impressive is the Blcik of the Ferris wheel at the popular Navy Pier.
The Millenium Park with the famous Cloud Gate is another attraction of the city. This highly polished sculpture is also called “The Big Bean” because of its shape and is probably the most popular photo motif in Chicago. Near Lake Michigan, the impressive Buckingham Fountain, one of the city’s landmarks, also attracts visitors with great water shows and lighting effects.
Popular Activities
Chicago River Architecture Cruise: Skip-the-Ticket-Office
Sightseeing Tours
from 38 $ »
Cruise along the Chicago River on a 75-minute tour, and discover hidden architectural gems among the city’s renowned landmarks. Led by a docent providing live narration, the tour passes more than 40 structures, and sails under historic bridges.
Chicago: 90-Minute Mob and Crime Bus Tour
Tours
from 45 $ »
Experience the darker side of the Windy City on a 90-minute Chicago Crime Tour that introduces you to the history of Chicago’s criminals and gangsters. Escape into the city’s underworld while learning about characters like Al Capone and John Dillinger.
Chicago Classic Lake Tour: 40-Minute Sightseeing Cruise
Sightseeing Tours
from 44 $ »
See the sights of Chicago from Lake Michigan on this 40-minute Classic Lake Tour. Admire the stunning views of the Chicago skyline and see many of the city’s iconic landmarks. Learn about Chicago’s history and its architecture during the cruise.
More attractions
Chicago: Gangsters and Ghosts 2-Hour Walking Tour | Chicago: Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Bus Tour | Go Chicago Pass: Save up to 55% on Top Attractions | Chicago Welcome Tour: Private Tour with a Local | 360 Chicago Observation Deck: 2-Visit Sun & Stars Pass | Bikes, Bites & Brews: Chicago Biking Tour | Chicago City Mini Bus Tour with Optional Architecture Cruise |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Chicago
light snow, -3.3 °CClouds: 100 % Wind: 7 mph NNO
Air Pressure: 1020 hPa Humidity: 83 %
Air Pressure: 1020 hPa Humidity: 83 %
Last updated: 27th Jan 2021, 04:00 am
The next days …
| 27th Jan 2021 | 28th Jan 2021 | 29th Jan 2021 | 30th Jan 2021 | 31st Jan 2021 | 1st Feb 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 -8 °C to -2 °C |  -12 °C to -6 °C |  -10 °C to -1 °C | -2 °C to 0 °C | -1 °C to 0 °C | -4 °C to -0 °C |
| -8 °C to -2 °C | -12 °C to -6 °C | -10 °C to -1 °C | -2 °C to 0 °C | -1 °C to 0 °C | -4 °C to -0 °C |
| Clouds: 100 % | Clouds: 51 % | Clouds: 48 % | Clouds: 100 % | Clouds: 100 % | Clouds: 95 % |
| 0.12 in of snow | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | 0.32 in of snow | 0.27 in of snow | 0.15 in of snow |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
USA: Regions
Chicago is part of the holiday destination USA. We analyzed the climate for additional regions, in order to provide you with information about the best time to visit and the expected holiday weather:USA | Las Vegas | California | Florida | Southern United States | New York | Grand Canyon | Alaska | Hawaii | Miami | Key West | Los Angeles | San Francisco | Washington D.C. | Seattle | Boston | San Diego | Orlando | New Orleans | Fort Myers |
Hottest Month
July: 29 °C
Day Temperature
July: 29 °CDay Temperature
Coldest Month
January: -11 °C
Night Temperature
January: -11 °CNight Temperature
Rainiest Month
August: 4.22 in
Rain
August: 4.22 inRain
Driest Month
February: 1.36 in
Rain
February: 1.36 inRain
Sunniest Month
June: 10.4 hours/day
Sunshine
June: 10.4 hours/daySunshine
Activities and Attractions
Chicago Crimes Night Tour
Tours
from 50 $ »
Chicago Food Tasting: 2.5-Hour Guided Walking Tour
Tours
from 62 $ »
Bobby’s Bike Hike Chicago: Lakefront Neighborhoods Tour
Tours
from 49 $ »
Distances to Chicago
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 3950 mi | 710 mi | 1750 mi |
Where’s Chicago?
Show Chicago on MapContinent: North America
All Holiday Destinations in North AmericaShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Chicago holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
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Chicago: Experiences of our Visitors
Pleasantly warm, as there was usually a light wind. A rain shower
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
From the 18th – 29th: We had 4 very warm summer days during 10 days at first, then it became 3 days somewhat cooler, changing cloudy, but mostly sunny. It followed 1 rainy day and afterwards it became clearly colder – cold wind. There were even a few shower of sleet, obviously autumn began.
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
In the 4 weeks of Chicago and the surrounding area there were 2 days with temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius. The rest was rain, snow, hail and a lot of wind at temperatures around 2 degrees Celsius to about 10 degrees Celsius.
Weather Rating: 1 stars – Mostly bad