ChicagoPhoto: G B_NZ · CC BY-SA 2.0USA · North America
Best time to visit Chicago
Chicago impresses with skyscrapers, museums and the lakefront on Lake Michigan. May to October is the best time to visit.
Climate decision
Best travel months for Chicago
Top recommendation
Next highest scores
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Latest 5-year values 2021–2025
Average of the five most recent complete years compared with the 1991–2025 climate average.
October · Mean daily maximum
17.5 °C
1991–2025: 15.4 °C
+2 °C · higher
May · Wet days
10.4 days/month
1991–2025: 13.3 days/month
-2.9 days/month · lower
March · Monthly precipitation
89.1 mm/month
1991–2025: 64.8 mm/month
+24.4 mm/month · higher
August: 7/155 days at or above 30 °C; highest single value 32.5 °C.
Five-year historical sample, not a weather forecast or long-term climate trend. Individual hot days can be far above the monthly mean.
Annual profile · City climate
Chicago: choose the season before the trip style
The lowest and highest average daily highs are 25.2 °C apart. Temperature is therefore the first decision layer, while rain and sunshine refine the choice of month.
How to read the curve
A single annual score hides the change of seasons. The useful question is which temperature window suits the planned city trip.
Lowest average daily low
January · -5.1 °C
Highest average daily high
July and August · 24.9 °C
Most rainy days
May · 13.3
Most sunshine
June · 7.4 h
Month by month
Overall suitability per month. Tap a month for details.
All climate figures compared
The table is the complete accessible data view; the charts below highlight selected patterns.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Rain mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -0 | -5 | 9 | 51 | 1.8 | 87 | 5.7 | 37 |
| February | 1 | -5 | 7 | 49 | 2.9 | 84 | 5.2 | 43 |
| March | 5 | -0 | 10 | 65 | 4.3 | 81 | 4.7 | 41 |
| April | 10 | 4 | 12 | 95 | 5.6 | 81 | 4.3 | 41 |
| May | 15 | 9 | 13 | 106 | 6.6 | 82 | 3.5 | 52 |
| June | 21 | 15 | 13 | 105 | 7.4 | 81 | 3.1 | 70 |
| July | 25 | 19 | 13 | 98 | 7.4 | 78 | 3.1 | 73 |
| August | 25 | 20 | 13 | 99 | 6.5 | 77 | 3.4 | 75 |
| September | 22 | 16 | 10 | 82 | 5.2 | 75 | 4.0 | 80 |
| October | 15 | 10 | 11 | 93 | 3.4 | 76 | 4.9 | 58 |
| November | 8 | 3 | 9 | 64 | 2.2 | 79 | 5.5 | 44 |
| December | 3 | -2 | 9 | 55 | 1.6 | 85 | 5.5 | 37 |
Climate through the year
Compare temperature, rainy days, sunshine and, for coastal destinations, sea temperature month by month.
Find a place to stay
Where to stay in Chicago
Compare available stays, prices and cancellation terms for Chicago on Booking.com.
Booking.comFind places to stayAffiliate link: there is no extra cost to you.
Useful next decisions
More comparisons
Similar destinations
The number is the overall climate score, not a similarity score.
Country and region
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
The strongest climate months are June, July, August, September. Values are historical averages, not a forecast.
Which month has the highest average daily maximum temperature in Chicago?
Average daily maximum temperatures in Chicago are practically tied in July and August at around 25 °C.