Chicago, Illinois, United States climate

Average temperatures, precipitation and all-time records for Chicago, Illinois, United States, with every day graded against ~45 years of local climate history (1981–2026). Its warmest month is July, averaging a high of 76°F, and its coldest is January, with an average low of 22°F.

Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the third-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.74 million at the 2020 census. via Wikipedia

How today compares

Latest recorded day: 2026-07-21. Each reading placed on Chicago, Illinois, United States's own ±7-day seasonal distribution.

High 89°F Very High · 99th pct

Low 66°F Normal · 41st pct

Feels-like 88°F High · 82nd pct

Humidity 16.4 g/m³ Above Normal · 61st pct

Wind 17 mph High · 84th pct

Precip 0.00 in Dry

Open Chicago in the live weather grader →

Notable weather in Chicago

A brutal heat wave in July 1995 pushed the heat index past 120°F and caused an estimated 700 heat-related deaths in Chicago, reshaping how the city prepares for extreme heat. Read more →

Chicago average temperatures by month

Typical daily high and low, and average precipitation, for each month in Chicago, Illinois, United States, based on 1981–2026 records. The wettest month is January (0.10 in on an average day).

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Avg precip
January	31°F	22°F	0.10 in
February	33°F	24°F	0.10 in
March	41°F	31°F	0.10 in
April	50°F	39°F	0.10 in
May	58°F	47°F	0.10 in
June	69°F	58°F	0.10 in
July	76°F	67°F	0.10 in
August	76°F	67°F	0.10 in
September	71°F	61°F	0.10 in
October	59°F	49°F	0.10 in
November	47°F	38°F	0.10 in
December	36°F	28°F	0.10 in

Jan 8°–40°

Feb 11°–44°

Mar 22°–52°

Apr 32°–61°

May 40°–69°

Jun 50°–78°

Jul 61°–83°

Aug 61°–82°

Sep 54°–79°

Oct 41°–69°

Nov 29°–58°

Dec 16°–46°

Each bar spans the 10th-percentile daily low to the 90th-percentile daily high (the range most days fall within), coloured cold → hot on a shared -10°F to 115°F scale, so the whole year's rhythm reads at a glance.

Thinking of visiting Chicago?

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Record extremes

Hottest day on record: 94°F on 2012-07-06
Coldest day on record: -19°F on 1982-01-10

All Chicago weather records →

Percentiles compare each day to Chicago, Illinois, United States's own history, so grades are relative to this location: a “Near Record” day here isn't the same temperature as elsewhere. How the grades work →