Chicago Weather Forecast
Chicago weather: 67°F, clear. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
Chicago weather in May
Weather map for Chicago
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Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Climate in Chicago month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 17° | 2,9 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 40° | 25° | 0,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 51° | 34° | 4,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 59° | 43° | 4,4 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 67° | 51° | 2,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 79° | 64° | 5,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 82° | 68° | 5,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 79° | 66° | 3,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 75° | 61° | 3,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 64° | 50° | 3,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 50° | 38° | 2,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 38° | 27° | 2,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Continental. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Best time to visit Chicago
Go in May, June, August, September and October. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
How Chicago compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Chicago.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County | 0 mi | 52°F | about the same | 40 in |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 34 mi | 52°F | about the same | 42 in |
| Starved Rock State Park | 80 mi | 53°F | +33°F warmer | 39 in |
| Milwaukee | 81 mi | 50°F | 34°F cooler | 35 in |
| Wisconsin | 122 mi | 49°F | 35°F cooler | 33 in |
See the Chicago forecast by time range
Chicago weather - more answers
Explore Chicago
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Weather for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Chicago?
Chicago is a city in Illinois. Its coordinates are 41.8781, -87.6298. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Chicago right now?
It is currently 67°F (19°C) with clear. Humidity is 82% and wind is 5 mph.
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
May, June, August, September and October offer the most comfortable conditions in Chicago, which has a continental climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Chicago in?
Chicago observes America/Chicago (UTC-05:00). The local time is 3:24 AM.
How many people live in Chicago?
Chicago has a population of approximately 2.7 million.
What is the nearest airport to Chicago?
The closest airports are O'Hare International Airport (ORD), 16 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Chicago?
Popular options include Indiana Dunes National Park, Starved Rock State Park and Lake Michigan.
What places are in Chicago?
Chicago covers 5 places in this atlas, including O'Hare International Airport, The Loop, Wicker Park, ZIP Code 60601 and Area Code 312.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-us) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 23, 2026 at 3:24 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
