January in Chicago: expect compromises
Hardest · 3.8/10At -2°C (29°F) this is proper winter weather in January: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
53 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.3 hours of daylight.
That is 3.8/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Chicago — 4.9 points higher on the same scale.
February in Chicago — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4.8/10At 0°C (32°F) this is proper winter weather in February: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
53 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with about 5 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.3 hours of daylight.
That is 4.8/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Chicago — 3.9 points higher on the same scale.
March in Chicago — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.8/10March averages 3°C (37°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 103 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 10 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 4.8/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? June scores 3.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
April in Chicago — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.6/10Expect 8°C (46°F) in April. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 84 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 17 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.1 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 6.6/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Chicago — 2.1 points higher on the same scale.
May in Chicago — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 8.1/10May averages 14°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 78 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.4 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.1/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
June in Chicago tops the year's climate scores
Best window · 8.7/10At 19°C (67°F) this is comfortable city weather in June, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
Budget for roughly 71 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15 hours of daylight to work around it.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Chicago at 8.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
July in Chicago — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 7/10At 23°C (73°F) this is comfortable city weather in July, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
148 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 7/10 on the same scale — 6th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Chicago — 1.7 points higher on the same scale.
August in Chicago — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 8.3/10August averages 23°C (73°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rainfall runs 73 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.3/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
September in Chicago — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 8.1/10September averages 20°C (68°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rainfall runs 77 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 16 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.3 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.1/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
October in Chicago — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7.5/10Temperatures hover around 14°C (57°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 69 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 8 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.8 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 7.5/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
November in Chicago: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6/10Expect 7°C (45°F) in November. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 46 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.6 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 6/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 8.7/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Chicago — 2.7 points higher on the same scale.
December in Chicago — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.4/10December averages 2°C (35°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 55 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.4/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? June scores 4.3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
