Chicago Holiday Weather Overview
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States.
Featuring beautiful architecture, prestigious shopping districts and an array of delicious, original food creations, Chicago will keep you as busy as you’d like to be.
Whilst the weather has traditionally been rather unpredictable, Chicago experiences two distinct weather seasons; summer and winter, with summer temperatures regularly climbing to 32°C.
Things to do and see in Chicago
Renowned for its remarkable beauty, Chicago is home to some wonderfully interesting and eye-catching tourist attractions.
The Magnificent Mile, sometimes referred to as The Mag Mile, runs from the Chicago River to Oak Street in the Near North side and is a prestigious section of Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.
The Harold Washington Library, the central library for the Chicago Public Library system, contains a stunning Winter Garden and features a stunning exterior that includes owl figures on the southwest corner of the building.
The architecture and elegance continues with the classically designed Clarke House Museum, built in 1836 and the Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere.
Once you have soaked up the beauty and knowledge that Chicago has to offer, why not check out Chicago’s beaches, an extensive network of waterfront recreational areas.
North Avenue Beach contains 22,000 square feet of space that features something for everyone, whilst Chicago also sits on the shore of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes of North America.
Best food and places to eat in Chicago
An essential food purchase in Chicago is the Deep-Dish Pizza, with Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria an acclaimed pie spot that has maintained its original recipe for over 40 years.
The Chicago-Style Hot Dog is a famous Chicago staple, where the vast selection of toppings that include; tomato wedges, hot peppers and celery salt provides more than just your regular hot dog experience.
Italian Beef is another dish that Chicago originated, dating back to the 1930s, that features thin slices of seasoned roast beef dripping with juices out of a long Italian roll. Widely regarded as a historical icon of Chicago, it can be found at most hot dog stands and small Italian-American restaurants.
What languages are spoken in Chicago?
More than 7.7million people live in the Chicago area and roughly 30% speak a language at home other than English.
Predominantly Chicago’s second language, almost 1.4million residents or approximately 18% of the population speak Spanish.
Elsewhere, in certain Chicago neighbourhoods, Chicago’s deep Polish roots are prominent, whilst Arabic, Tagalog and Chinese are also spoken in some of Chicago’s suburbs.
Which currency is used in Chicago?
The United States dollar is the official currency of Chicago. Visitors entering Chicago from outside of the United States will need to acquire US dollars beforehand.
ATMs are available for money withdrawal across the city, but a money exchange service in an airport is most likely your easiest option of obtaining dollars before embarking on your stay.
Top places to stay in Chicago
For those seeking a five-star luxury star, the Four Seasons Chicago offers panoramic views of the Chicago skyline, with all rooms featuring vintage French interior and marble bathrooms.
However, for a more modest experience, at least financially, there are a host of four, three and two star hotels which, if you’re based in the centre of it all, can offer terrific value.
The Central Loop Hotel is tailored for business trips and relaxing leisure travel alike, with thoroughly decent prices and widely positive feedback from users justifying its selection.
Best month to visit Chicago
All seasons in Chicago offer their quirks and charms, but the autumn period of between mid-September and October may be the most enjoyable conditions to experience.
The heat from the summer will still be in effect, whilst the chilly breezes that lurk in the air will be of great assistance when sightseeing.
For those who enjoy the beauty of snow, the Chicago winter may be the ideal time of year to visit, whilst the seekers of a sun-laden holiday will thoroughly enjoy the immense summer heat that Chicago has to offer.
Spring in Chicago
Spring arrives for a very short period in Chicago between April and May. Whilst fog is most frequent during this season, the uppermost regular day temperature is 15°C with the lowest average temperature 5°C.
Thunderstorms are prevalent during spring time in Chicago, with the season a largely unpredictable one. The highest temperature recorded in this season is 33°C in May, with -22°C the lowest temperature recorded in preceding month of March.
Summer in Chicago
Spanning across June-August, summers in Chicago usually feature moderately high temperatures that regularly climb to 32°C.
Summer is both the rainiest and sunniest season in Chicago, with the season prone to thunderstorms but also a vast amount of possible sunshine.
The average maximum temperature reaches 28°C in Chicago, with the highest temperature recorded as 41C in July and the lowest average temperature standing at 16°C.
Autumn in Chicago
The extreme heat from the summer in Chicago can offer persist into the autumn season, with weather relatively unpredictable during the September-November months.
Whilst still hot, Chicago can be chilly, rainy or even a tad moist during autumn. September can produce the highest temperature of up to 36°C, whilst November will usually experience a lower temperature of 13°C.
Winter in Chicago
The winter is often in vast comparison to the summers of Chicago, with snowfall a regular feature that provides an average of 38 inches of snow on average.
Snow will often cover the Chicago land for a few weeks, but temperatures on the whole can be quite variable. The highest average temperature is 10°C, with the lowest average temperature around -9°C.
Extremes have been known to hit Chicago during this season, with visitors in January potentially experiencing a rather intolerable -29°C and contrastingly, 22°C in February.
What to pack and wear in Chicago?
During the spring and particularly summer seasons, clothing in Chicago should be light and airy due to the exceptional heat. Regardless of the seasons, comfortable shoes should be worn as the amount of tourist attractions on offer in Chicago will require a hefty amount of walking.
In the winter, Chicago can become bitterly cold. Winter boots with good traction will prevent any slipping on ice, whilst a thick, long coat will ensure the above mentioned periods of walking don’t leave you numb with cold as a result.
Best months to visit Chicago?
June and July are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Chicago. The weather averages gathered from Chicago weather forecast and Chicago weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 23°c and average of 226.2667 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Chicago?
January and February are the coldest months with temperature at around -6°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Chicago?
June and May receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 160.76mm.
Travelling to Chicago? Check out our Weather averages of Chicago to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Chicago section.