AI-generatedChicago at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 26°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,190 h
- Rain a year
- 991 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC−6 / UTC−5
- Elevation
- 179 m
Climate in Chicago
Chicago has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 26 °C, while January is the coolest at −1 °C. With around 2,190 hours of sunshine a year, Chicago is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 8.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: May – September
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Good forSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 11°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
07:0118:11
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:44–07:39 · evening 17:33–18:28
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:33–06:44 · evening 18:28–18:39
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Chicago in October?
In October, Chicago is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Chicago.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 10 min07:01 – 18:11
- UV index
- 4 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 1 daydew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 23 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 55 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−5America/Chicago
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %76 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %40 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %57 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Chicago
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.4 of 11.2 hours of daylight in Chicago, 48 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Chicago
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 4 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 35 min
- Fair skin
- about 45 min
- Light brown skin
- about 65 min
- Olive skin
- about 80 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Chicago: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Chicago has about 10 rainy days with 87 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Chicago
How breezy and how cloudy Chicago is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Chicago typically peaks at 23 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 55 % of the sky over Chicago: variable cloud, with about 5.4 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Chicago
How often the day gets hot in Chicago (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Chicago has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 16 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Chicago
Snow is possible in Chicago, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Chicago.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Chicago
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
CoolOctober: nights around 10°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening. Muggy on about 1 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (−7°), the warmest in July (21°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from July to August; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in June and in September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 48 days a year, mostly from July to August.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 21 | −1° | −7° | 3.6 h | 9 | 62 |
| FebruaryFeb | 27 | 1° | −6° | 4.6 h | 8 | 58 |
| MarchMar | 25 | 5° | −1° | 5.6 h | 11 | 74 |
| AprilApr | 39 | 11° | 5° | 6.5 h | 12 | 108 |
| MayMay | 72 | 17° | 11° | 7.0 h | 13 | 114 |
| JuneJun | 80 | 24° | 18° | 8.2 h | 12 | 108 |
| JulyJul | 83 | 26° | 21° | 8.7 h | 11 | 89 |
| AugustAug | 82 | 26° | 20° | 8.0 h | 11 | 92 |
| SeptemberSep | 83 | 22° | 17° | 6.9 h | 9 | 70 |
| OctoberOct | 63 | 16° | 10° | 5.4 h | 10 | 87 |
| NovemberNov | 26 | 8° | 3° | 4.1 h | 9 | 63 |
| DecemberDec | 20 | 2° | −3° | 3.3 h | 9 | 65 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
41.85° N, 87.65° W · 179 m · America/Chicago
Best time to visit Chicago
The best time to visit Chicago is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from July to October. Rain is most frequent from April to June; the wettest month is May with 114 mm.
Chicago through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Chicago in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 5–17 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Chicago in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 24–26 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Chicago in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 8–22 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Chicago in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- -1–2 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 26 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Chicago for you.
Your best months: June, August – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Chicago
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Chicago: score 83 against 63. In July, days are 10 °C warmer than in October. July has one more rainy day. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 63 | 83better |
| Day high | 16° | 26° |
| Night low | 10° | 21° |
| Sunshine | 5.4 h | 8.7 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 10better | 11 |
| Rainfall | 87 mm | 89 mm |
| Muggy days | 1better | 16 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jul – Oct
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Apr – Jun
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Dec – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Chicago month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
21January-1° · 4 h
In January, Chicago is freezing cold: daytime highs average −1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 9 days, totalling 62 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in January27February1° · 5 h
In February, Chicago is freezing cold: daytime highs average 1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 8 days, totalling 58 mm. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in February25March5° · 6 h
In March, Chicago is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 74 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in March39April11° · 7 h
In April, Chicago is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 108 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in April72May17° · 7 h
In May, Chicago is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 114 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in May80June24° · 8 h
In June, Chicago is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 108 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in June83July26° · 9 h
In July, Chicago is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 89 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in July82August26° · 8 h
In August, Chicago is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 92 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in August83September22° · 7 h
In September, Chicago is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 70 mm. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in September63October16° · 5 h
In October, Chicago is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in October26November8° · 4 h
In November, Chicago is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 63 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in November20December2° · 3 h
In December, Chicago is freezing cold: daytime highs average 2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 9 days, totalling 65 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chicago.
Chicago in DecemberChicago compared
Put Chicago side by side with another destination.
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Chicago vs. Milwaukee
In October Chicago has the better holiday weather (score 63 vs. 57). During the day Milwaukee is 2 °C cooler than Chicago.
| in October | Chicago | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 63 | 57 |
| Daytime high | 16° | 14° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 10 | 9 |
| Best time | May – Sep | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Chicago ranks 26 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Oklahoma City23°86
- 2Greenville22°85
- 3Charlotte22°85
- 4Atlanta22°85
- 5Memphis23°84
- 6Raleigh22°84
- 7Omaha18°83
- 8St. Louis20°82
- 26ChicagoThis page16°63
Planning a trip to Chicago
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Chicago in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Chicago has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 82) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 21).
- 35
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 9 °C by day
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 74
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 19 °C by day
- 7.2 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 82
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- 8.2 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 63
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 16 °C by day
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 21
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 1 °C by day
- 3.5 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 8 h 10 min
- Distance
- 6,340 km
- Time zone
- UTC−5
- Jet lag
- About 4 days (6 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Chicago lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Chicago
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
The best time to visit Chicago is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Chicago?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 26 °C and nights around 21 °C. January is the coolest month at −1 °C.
When does it rain most in Chicago?
Rain is most frequent from April to June; the wettest month is May with 114 mm. The driest month is February with 58 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Chicago get?
Chicago gets around 2,190 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 8.7 hours a day; in December there are 3.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Chicago in?
Chicago uses the time zone America/Chicago: UTC−6 in January and UTC−5 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Chicago?
A nonstop flight from London to Chicago takes about 8 h 10 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,340 km.
When is hurricane season in Chicago?
Chicago lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Chicago?
Chicago has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 82) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 21). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 35, May half-term 74, Summer holidays 82, October half-term 63, Christmas holidays 21.
Near Chicago
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Chicago
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Chicago's – good alternatives.