Best Time to Visit Chicago: Weather Month by Month

Q: What is the best time to visit Chicago?

July is the best month with 27.0°C highs, 19.0°C lows, 10.3h of sunshine and 31.0% rainy days. The months of July & June offer comparable conditions.

Q: How many hours of sunshine does Chicago get in July?

Chicago averages 10.3 sunshine hours per day in July. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 8.2/10.

Q: What is the rainiest month in Chicago?

December is the most unfavourable month with December has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.

Q: What are the temperatures at night in Chicago in July?

In July, overnight lows reach 19.0°C, while afternoon highs average 27.0°C.

Q: Is Chicago good in winter?

In winter (December-February), Chicago scores 3.0/10 on average — Difficult period — prefer the peak season.. The best month overall remains July with a score of 8.2/10.

Q: When should you avoid Chicago?

December is the most difficult month to visit Chicago, with December has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.

Decide

When to visit Chicago?

The decision rests on several criteria. Climate score, tourist crowds and feasible activities.

Verdict: In Chicago, July and June clearly stand out. December concentrates the least favourable conditions.

Top & avoid

🏆 July · 8.7 June · 8.5 August · 8.4 September · 8.1 ⚠️ December · 1.1

4.0

Jan

4.0

Feb

4.1

Mar

4.3

Apr

7.5

May

8.5

Jun

8.7

Jul

8.4

Aug

8.1

Sep

7.2

Oct

4.1

Nov

1.1

Dec

Best period · ≥ 7 Decent period · 4 – 7 Tough conditions · < 4

What you grasp in 5 seconds

Chicago offers 6 comfortable months, with 1 months to avoid (December). The gap is sharp: 8.7 in July vs 1.1 in December.

What to check next

Your tolerance for crowds and budget. The best months concentrate tourist saturation and higher prices. Shoulder seasons offer a good compromise.

Next action

Scroll down to the detailed table to compare month by month, then open the page of the month that interests you.

Compare the 12 months By your project

How we calculate the score

The score combines 4 weighted criteria using 10 years of real climate data (ERA5).

Source : ERA5 · Open-Meteo · 10 years (2016–2025) · Full methodology →

Understand

Compare all 12 months

Month-by-month details: temperature, rain, sunshine, score and verdict.

✅ 6 comfortable months (May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct)

Month	T° min	T° max	Rain %	mm/day	Sun	Score	Verdict
🌥️ January →	-5°C	1°C	22%	2.1mm	4.4h	4.0/10	Decent period
🌥️ February →	-5°C	2°C	22%	2.1mm	4.8h	4.0/10	Decent period
🌥️ March →	0°C	7°C	29%	3.0mm	6.0h	4.1/10	Decent period
🌥️ April →	4°C	12°C	32%	3.3mm	7.2h	4.3/10	Decent period
☀️ May →	9°C	18°C	30%	4.0mm	9.1h	7.5/10	Best period
☀️ June →	16°C	25°C	28%	3.7mm	10.4h	8.5/10	Best period
☀️ July →	19°C	27°C	31%	4.8mm	10.3h	8.7/10	Best period
☀️ August →	19°C	26°C	28%	3.4mm	9.1h	8.4/10	Best period
☀️ September →	16°C	23°C	25%	3.1mm	7.6h	8.1/10	Best period
⛅ October →	9°C	17°C	29%	4.0mm	6.2h	7.2/10	Best period
🌥️ November →	2°C	9°C	20%	2.0mm	3.8h	4.1/10	Decent period
🌧️ December →	-3°C	3°C	21%	1.9mm	3.4h	1.1/10	Tough conditions

🌥️ January

4.0/10

T°-5°C / 1°C

Rain %22%

Sun4.4h

Decent period

🌥️ February

4.0/10

T°-5°C / 2°C

Rain %22%

Sun4.8h

Decent period

🌥️ March

4.1/10

T°0°C / 7°C

Rain %29%

Sun6.0h

Decent period

🌥️ April

4.3/10

T°4°C / 12°C

Rain %32%

Sun7.2h

Decent period

☀️ May

7.5/10

T°9°C / 18°C

Rain %30%

Best period

Rain %28%

Best period

Rain %31%

Best period

Rain %28%

Best period

Rain %25%

Best period

T°9°C / 17°C

Rain %29%

Sun6.2h

Best period

🌥️ November

4.1/10

T°2°C / 9°C

Rain %20%

Sun3.8h

Decent period

🌧️ December

1.1/10

T°-3°C / 3°C

Rain %21%

Sun3.4h

Tough conditions

📊 Quick read

Optimal window

May → Oct

Good transition

Apr · Nov

Tough period

Dec

🌡️ Detailed conditions (July)

🌡️ Feel

Warm

☀️ UV

7.0 · Moderate-Strong

💧 Humidity feel

18°C · Humid

☔ Rain

31% · 4.8 mm/day

🌅 Sunshine

10.3h/day

10-year trend

Annual temperatures — Chicago

Min/max temperature curves observed over the past 10 years (ERA5). Shows climate stability and trend.

Tailor

For your trip

A few angles depending on what kind of trip you are planning.

🏛️ Heritage🍴 Gastronomy☔ Indoor sights

Book

Plan your trip

Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.

🏨

Stay

Hotels & rentals · Chicago

Expedia →

🎟️

Activities

Tours, tickets, experiences

See ↓

✈️

Flights

Multi-airline comparator

Kiwi →

🎟️ Activities & tours · Chicago

GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation

See all →

Affiliate link · GetYourGuide

Practical info

What you need to know before you go

Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a city break.

Country · USA

🗣️LanguageEnglish

💶CurrencyUS Dollar ($)

🚗DrivingRight-hand

🛡️Safety ⓘVery safe · 1/5

💰Cost of living ⓘExpensive · 4/5

🌡️ Climate

🌍Climate typeTemperate

📈Climate trend ⓘStable

🔥Hottest monthJuly · 27°C

❄️Coolest monthJanuary · 1°C

🌧️Rainiest month ⓘApril · 32%

🏛️ City break

📅Tourist peak seasonJune → August

☔Indoor sights ⓘYear-round

🚇Public transportGood

Explore

Related destinations & guides

If this destination doesn't fit your dates, here are alternatives and guides.

Similar climate destinations

Boston · USA→

New York · United States→

Toronto · Canada→

Prague · Czech Republic→

Nearby destinations

Nashville · United States640 km →

Memphis · United States777 km →

Asheville · United States827 km →

Washington DC · USA955 km →

Guides & rankings

World ranking 2026See →

Best summer destinationsSee →

Winter sunSee →

Where to go in JulySee →

🗺️ Climate map of 754 destinations

Location

Where is Chicago ?

Global position + regional geographic context.

🌍 World

🔍 Geographic context

Temperate climate with a 8.7 → 1.1 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.

41.88°N · 87.63°W

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Chicago?

July is the best month with 27.0°C highs, 19.0°C lows, 10.3h of sunshine and 31.0% rainy days. The months of July & June offer comparable conditions.

How many hours of sunshine does Chicago get in July?

Chicago averages 10.3 sunshine hours per day in July. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 8.2/10.

What is the rainiest month in Chicago?

December is the most unfavourable month with December has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.

What are the temperatures at night in Chicago in July?

In July, overnight lows reach 19.0°C, while afternoon highs average 27.0°C.

Is Chicago good in winter?

In winter (December-February), Chicago scores 3.0/10 on average — Difficult period — prefer the peak season.. The best month overall remains July with a score of 8.2/10.

When should you avoid Chicago?

December is the most difficult month to visit Chicago, with December has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.