Continental · United States

Chicago weather, year by year

In Chicago, the year averages 10.6 °C, from -7.1 °C on January nights to 27.7 °C on July afternoons. 2012 still holds the title of warmest year since 1940.

YearYear 2025

Mean tempMean temp 10.9 °C

vs normalvs normal +0.3 °C

RankRank 20/86

Tap or slide over the stripes to flip the year

The climate of Chicago

July is the warmest month (highs around 27.7 °C) and January the coldest (lows around -7.1 °C). About 993 mm of precipitation falls each year.

Average low → highPrecipitation (mm)Normal 1991–2020

Every year in Chicago since 1940, ranked

Pick a measure and line up all 86 years against the 1991–2020 normal. 2025 ranks 20 of 86 (+0.3 °C).

194019832025

2025 · 10.9 °C · +0.3 °C vs normal · rank 20 of 86

Warmest years

1201212.7 °C
2199812.2 °C
3202412.1 °C
4202311.7 °C
5202111.6 °C

Coldest years

119407.7 °C
219438.3 °C
320148.6 °C
419728.7 °C
519518.8 °C

All 86 years in a table

Year	Mean temperature	Daytime highs	Night lows	Precipitation	Hot days (30 °C+)	Frost days	Snowfall	Rainy days
2025	10.9 °C	14.8 °C	7.0 °C	959 mm	23 days	99 days	69 cm	115 days
2024	12.1 °C	16.1 °C	8.3 °C	974 mm	20 days	75 days	55 cm	125 days
2023	11.7 °C	15.4 °C	8.0 °C	955 mm	12 days	71 days	44 cm	128 days
2022	10.6 °C	14.5 °C	6.6 °C	972 mm	14 days	105 days	67 cm	121 days
2021	11.6 °C	15.3 °C	7.9 °C	1,079 mm	21 days	89 days	84 cm	124 days
2020	11.1 °C	14.9 °C	7.4 °C	1,069 mm	15 days	88 days	67 cm	121 days
2019	10.0 °C	13.7 °C	6.3 °C	1,299 mm	10 days	117 days	92 cm	150 days
2018	10.3 °C	13.9 °C	6.6 °C	1,167 mm	24 days	123 days	79 cm	141 days
2017	11.1 °C	14.9 °C	7.4 °C	1,169 mm	10 days	85 days	25 cm	120 days
2016	11.4 °C	15.1 °C	7.8 °C	970 mm	20 days	93 days	61 cm	124 days
2015	10.3 °C	14.2 °C	6.4 °C	1,085 mm	13 days	93 days	77 cm	120 days
2014	8.6 °C	12.5 °C	4.5 °C	1,020 mm	2 days	122 days	86 cm	128 days
2013	10.0 °C	13.8 °C	6.0 °C	949 mm	16 days	125 days	88 cm	124 days
2012	12.7 °C	16.7 °C	8.6 °C	770 mm	47 days	84 days	47 cm	109 days
2011	10.9 °C	14.5 °C	7.3 °C	1,089 mm	30 days	101 days	56 cm	134 days
2010	11.1 °C	14.8 °C	7.4 °C	1,090 mm	29 days	111 days	70 cm	123 days
2009	9.8 °C	13.5 °C	6.0 °C	1,146 mm	9 days	99 days	78 cm	139 days
2008	9.8 °C	13.7 °C	5.7 °C	1,129 mm	15 days	124 days	117 cm	124 days
2007	11.3 °C	15.1 °C	7.4 °C	849 mm	31 days	111 days	83 cm	123 days
2006	11.3 °C	14.9 °C	7.7 °C	1,053 mm	17 days	85 days	47 cm	121 days
2005	11.1 °C	15.0 °C	7.2 °C	679 mm	38 days	102 days	84 cm	105 days
2004	10.5 °C	14.2 °C	6.6 °C	894 mm	4 days	99 days	55 cm	121 days
2003	9.8 °C	13.7 °C	5.8 °C	845 mm	14 days	116 days	49 cm	107 days
2002	10.9 °C	14.6 °C	7.1 °C	850 mm	32 days	107 days	74 cm	111 days
2001	11.0 °C	14.7 °C	7.1 °C	950 mm	23 days	104 days	27 cm	122 days
2000	10.4 °C	14.2 °C	6.6 °C	988 mm	6 days	107 days	83 cm	122 days
1999	11.1 °C	15.0 °C	7.1 °C	882 mm	25 days	99 days	72 cm	106 days
1998	12.2 °C	15.7 °C	8.7 °C	1,016 mm	17 days	79 days	54 cm	116 days
1997	9.7 °C	13.2 °C	6.0 °C	844 mm	19 days	120 days	79 cm	118 days
1996	9.1 °C	12.9 °C	5.3 °C	977 mm	11 days	132 days	37 cm	131 days
1995	10.4 °C	14.1 °C	6.7 °C	923 mm	37 days	118 days	40 cm	116 days
1994	10.2 °C	14.1 °C	6.2 °C	928 mm	17 days	105 days	66 cm	115 days
1993	9.8 °C	13.3 °C	6.4 °C	1,140 mm	13 days	107 days	70 cm	135 days
1992	9.9 °C	13.5 °C	6.4 °C	1,013 mm	6 days	100 days	42 cm	127 days
1991	11.2 °C	15.2 °C	7.3 °C	1,007 mm	39 days	109 days	90 cm	111 days
1990	11.1 °C	15.1 °C	7.3 °C	1,329 mm	14 days	102 days	54 cm	116 days
1989	9.3 °C	13.3 °C	5.5 °C	775 mm	12 days	119 days	59 cm	116 days
1988	10.3 °C	14.5 °C	6.0 °C	847 mm	49 days	114 days	62 cm	93 days
1987	11.3 °C	15.1 °C	7.7 °C	1,019 mm	39 days	107 days	65 cm	116 days
1986	10.5 °C	14.1 °C	6.7 °C	1,001 mm	11 days	114 days	57 cm	118 days
1985	9.7 °C	13.5 °C	5.9 °C	1,138 mm	13 days	111 days	72 cm	135 days
1984	10.1 °C	13.9 °C	6.4 °C	933 mm	20 days	106 days	72 cm	126 days
1983	10.6 °C	14.2 °C	7.0 °C	975 mm	49 days	101 days	73 cm	127 days
1982	9.6 °C	13.5 °C	5.7 °C	922 mm	9 days	115 days	102 cm	121 days
1981	9.9 °C	13.7 °C	6.2 °C	926 mm	10 days	114 days	68 cm	115 days
1980	9.6 °C	13.4 °C	5.8 °C	977 mm	26 days	118 days	105 cm	132 days
1979	9.0 °C	12.7 °C	4.8 °C	848 mm	10 days	127 days	96 cm	119 days
1978	9.0 °C	12.9 °C	5.1 °C	840 mm	27 days	125 days	121 cm	114 days
1977	10.1 °C	14.0 °C	6.2 °C	898 mm	28 days	109 days	93 cm	137 days
1976	9.2 °C	13.7 °C	4.8 °C	835 mm	16 days	122 days	64 cm	108 days
1975	10.3 °C	14.0 °C	6.6 °C	1,002 mm	18 days	124 days	109 cm	135 days
1974	9.9 °C	13.6 °C	6.1 °C	1,024 mm	15 days	105 days	94 cm	144 days
1973	11.0 °C	14.7 °C	7.5 °C	1,155 mm	25 days	91 days	70 cm	145 days
1972	8.7 °C	12.4 °C	4.8 °C	1,059 mm	13 days	130 days	114 cm	139 days
1971	10.0 °C	14.1 °C	5.9 °C	651 mm	24 days	121 days	53 cm	103 days
1970	9.7 °C	13.6 °C	5.8 °C	1,003 mm	26 days	120 days	91 cm	132 days
1969	9.2 °C	13.1 °C	5.3 °C	834 mm	15 days	134 days	68 cm	112 days
1968	10.0 °C	14.2 °C	6.0 °C	741 mm	25 days	112 days	57 cm	110 days
1967	9.2 °C	13.1 °C	5.2 °C	934 mm	7 days	116 days	105 cm	131 days
1966	9.3 °C	13.5 °C	5.2 °C	833 mm	21 days	121 days	52 cm	106 days
1965	9.5 °C	13.5 °C	5.6 °C	1,120 mm	10 days	115 days	94 cm	125 days
1964	10.2 °C	14.5 °C	5.9 °C	781 mm	31 days	122 days	89 cm	109 days
1963	9.1 °C	13.6 °C	4.7 °C	622 mm	17 days	116 days	66 cm	94 days
1962	9.2 °C	13.2 °C	5.3 °C	715 mm	17 days	123 days	95 cm	112 days
1961	9.7 °C	13.7 °C	5.7 °C	1,094 mm	17 days	115 days	95 cm	127 days
1960	9.4 °C	13.2 °C	5.5 °C	936 mm	18 days	132 days	85 cm	132 days
1959	9.9 °C	13.8 °C	6.0 °C	1,016 mm	32 days	130 days	96 cm	134 days
1958	9.1 °C	13.0 °C	5.3 °C	756 mm	8 days	123 days	52 cm	101 days
1957	9.8 °C	13.6 °C	6.0 °C	1,044 mm	17 days	124 days	63 cm	119 days
1956	10.3 °C	14.3 °C	6.3 °C	816 mm	13 days	125 days	64 cm	125 days
1955	10.5 °C	14.6 °C	6.4 °C	828 mm	37 days	120 days	50 cm	110 days
1954	10.7 °C	14.6 °C	6.9 °C	938 mm	35 days	116 days	81 cm	120 days
1953	11.2 °C	15.2 °C	7.1 °C	693 mm	40 days	104 days	58 cm	107 days
1952	10.3 °C	14.4 °C	6.3 °C	820 mm	30 days	119 days	64 cm	111 days
1951	8.8 °C	12.6 °C	4.7 °C	1,194 mm	3 days	128 days	142 cm	136 days
1950	8.8 °C	12.7 °C	4.7 °C	1,032 mm	8 days	133 days	120 cm	135 days
1949	10.6 °C	14.6 °C	6.5 °C	954 mm	28 days	113 days	64 cm	130 days
1948	9.5 °C	13.4 °C	5.2 °C	958 mm	20 days	111 days	69 cm	122 days
1947	8.8 °C	12.6 °C	4.9 °C	997 mm	24 days	143 days	99 cm	116 days
1946	10.3 °C	14.3 °C	6.3 °C	916 mm	8 days	96 days	49 cm	117 days
1945	9.3 °C	12.9 °C	5.6 °C	1,103 mm	10 days	107 days	46 cm	134 days
1944	9.9 °C	13.6 °C	6.3 °C	807 mm	17 days	124 days	70 cm	119 days
1943	8.3 °C	12.2 °C	4.5 °C	840 mm	11 days	142 days	80 cm	111 days
1942	8.8 °C	12.6 °C	5.1 °C	882 mm	8 days	130 days	86 cm	115 days
1941	9.2 °C	13.0 °C	5.4 °C	836 mm	22 days	128 days	67 cm	106 days
1940	7.7 °C	11.5 °C	4.0 °C	748 mm	13 days	143 days	114 cm	119 days

Year vs year

Pick two years and let them fight it out in Chicago: month by month, point by point.

First year2025

Second year2012

In Chicago, 2012 beats 2025 by 1.8 °C on mean temperature.

20252012Normal 1991–2020

3points3

10.9 °CWarmer12.7 °C
23 daysHot days47 days
99 daysFrost days84 days
959 mmWetter770 mm
69 cmSnowier47 cm
1,587 kWh/m²Sunnier1,615 kWh/m²

Records in Chicago

The most extreme days and years since 1940, with the readings of a nearby station when they go further.

Hottest day

38.0 °C

July 14, 1995 estimate

Nearby station: 41.7 °C on June 1, 1934 measured

Coldest night

-30.2 °C

January 19, 1994 estimate

Nearby station: -31.7 °C on January 20, 1985 measured

Wettest day

93 mm

June 25, 2021 estimate

Nearby station: 157 mm on July 12, 1957 measured

Snowiest day

23 cm

January 2, 1999 estimate

Strongest gust

107 km/h

November 10, 1998 estimate

Year records

Warmest201212.7 °C
Coldest19407.7 °C
Wettest19901,329 mm
Driest1963622 mm

The weather on your birthday in Chicago

Any day since 1940: high, low, rain, snow, and how warm it was compared with the same date in every other year.

Chicago vs another city

Compare with

Chicago is cooler than Miami by 14.1 °C on average over the year. Chicago gets 52 mm less precipitation per year. In Chicago, no month is warmer.

ChicagoMiamiBand: average low to average high

Questions & answers

What is the climate like in Chicago?

Chicago averages 10.6 °C over the year. The warmest month is July, with highs around 27.7 °C; the coldest is January, with lows around -7.1 °C. About 993 mm of precipitation falls each year, over some 122 rainy days.

What was the warmest year in Chicago?

2012, at +2.1 °C compared with the 1991–2020 normal. The coldest was 1940. Out of 86 years since 1940, 2025 ranks 20.

What is the wettest month in Chicago?

April gets the most precipitation and February the least. The wettest year was 1990, the driest 1963.

Is Chicago getting warmer?

Compared with its first thirty years on record (from 1940), the last ten years in Chicago show a gap of +1.5 °C in mean temperature.