Chicago receives its highest rainfall in May, while humidity peaks during winter months.
🌧️ Wettest:May — 106 mm☀️ Driest:Jan — 48 mm
💧 Humidity peaks at 87% in Jan · annual avg 81%
🌍 Climate Summary
Avg Annual Temp:49.6°F
Avg Annual Rainfall:967 mm
Avg Humidity:81%
Data Period:1981 – 2025
Chicago Climate Overview
Chicago has a temperate climate with warm summers and freezing winters.
Temperatures peak in Aug and drop to their lowest in Jan,
while rainfall is highest during spring and early summer months.
Humidity remains high throughout the year, especially during winter months, creating cold and damp conditions.
📈 Yearly Trends
The warmest year in Chicago's recorded history was 2012
(avg: 54.7°F),
while the coldest year was 1982
(avg: 44.8°F),
based on annual average temperatures.
📊 Key Climate Trends
🌡️ Chicago's temperature has remained relatively stable over the past decade
📈 Minimum temperatures show a slight warming trend in recent years
🌧️ Rainfall has decreased in recent years compared to earlier periods
🌡️ Annual Temperature Trend
View Range:
Average annual high/low · Last 10 years · °F
Chicago's temperatures has remained relatively stable over the past decade.
The highest recorded temperature reached
94.5°F in Jul 2012,
while the lowest dropped to
-19.2°F in Jan 1982.
🌧️ Annual Precipitation
View Range:
Total annual precipitation · Last 10 years · mm/year
Annual rainfall in Chicago shows noticeable variation. Rainfall has decreased in recent years compared to earlier periods.
Based on 45 years of data (1981–2025), Aug is typically the hottest month in Chicago, Illinois, with average high temperatures around 84.5°F.
What is the coldest month in Chicago?▼
Jan is the coldest month in Chicago, with average low temperatures around 5.1°F.
What is the rainiest month in Chicago?▼
May receives the most rainfall with approximately 106 mm, while Jan is the driest with 48 mm.
What was the highest temperature ever recorded in Chicago?▼
The highest recorded temperature was 94.5°F in Jul 2012. This is part of the historical record spanning 1981–2025.
What was the lowest temperature ever recorded in Chicago?▼
The lowest recorded temperature was -19.2°F in Jan 1982.
How many years of data does this page cover?▼
This page covers 45 years of climate data from 1981 to 2025. As new data is added to the database the page automatically reflects the updated coverage.
How much sunlight does Chicago get?▼
Chicago receives the most sunlight in Jun with an average solar radiation of 6.06 kWh/m²/day. This solar radiation data, sourced from NASA POWER, is useful for solar energy planning, agriculture, and understanding seasonal sunshine availability in Illinois.
Where does this weather data come from?▼
All climate data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite and model data. It provides monthly averages for temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation.
📚 Data Source
All weather data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources), a NASA project providing solar and meteorological data for renewable energy, building efficiency, and agricultural research.