FAQs
Record Cold January 20, 1985
The temperature went down to -27, and a wind chill of -93 was recorded. This is the all-time coldest temperature for Chicago.
Does Lake Michigan make Chicago colder? ›
Lake Michigan influences the climate of Chicago and most of northeastern Illinois. The large thermal mass of the lake tends to moderate temperatures, causing cooler summers and warmer winters. One of the major benefits is cool lake breezes that provide some relief from summer heat.
How cold does it get in Chicago in winter? ›
Monthly and Annual Normals (from O'Hare Airport)
MONTH/ANNUAL | HIGH (F) | LOW (F) |
---|
October | 62.7 | 45.4 |
November | 48.4 | 34.1 |
December | 36.6 | 24.4 |
Annual | 59.5 | 43.0 |
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What is the average snowfall in Chicago? ›
Winters in Chicago bring picturesque snow, magical light displays, and unique holiday traditions. The average annual snowfall is approximately 37 inches (949 mm). Average daily highs are around 30 – 38°F (-1°C – 3°C). Visit the National Weather Service or weather.com for the latest weather information.
Is Chicago colder than Alaska? ›
The average daily high in Anchorage is approximately 23 degrees in the month of January, according to the National Weather Service. Chicago's temperatures are even colder than some found in the Arctic Circle.
What was the hottest day in Chicago history? ›
Chicago's official allâ€'time high temperature of 105 (University of Chicago) was set July 24 1934. It was 109 at Midway on July 23, 1934, the highest temperature ever recorded at a Chicago location (but Midway was not the official observatory for Chicago in 1934).
Why does Lake Michigan not freeze? ›
Air temperature matters when it comes to ice cover on the Great Lakes, said Kessler. Cold air is needed to cool the water so the lakes can freeze. But with the climate rapidly heating up, records show warmer than average temperatures in the region are melting the chances for Great Lakes ice to form.
Which is colder Lake Superior or Lake Michigan? ›
Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake by area (31,700 mi2 /82,100 km2). It is also the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 406 meters (1,332 feet).
Why is Lake Michigan so blue in Chicago? ›
Sediment, dissolved plant bits, tiny photosynthesizing plankton — they all influence the dance between light and water. So does the angle that sunlight hits the water or the presence of clouds overhead. It seems like every time you look at Lake Michigan, it's a different color.
What is the rainiest month in Chicago? ›
The driest month in Chicago is February with 1.63 inches of precipitation, and with 4.62 inches August is the wettest month.
ILLINOIS— Winter temperatures in Illinois have warmed by more than a half-degree per decade since 1980, according to a new analysis looking at how climate change has contributed to warmer winters in most of the country.
Why is Chicago called the windy city? ›
Chicago is infamous for its strong and blustery winds. Chicago's unique meteorological conditions and urban structure contribute to its reputation as the “Windy City.” Structurally, the city's location on Lake Michigan plays a pivotal role.
Has it ever snowed in June in Chicago? ›
There has been only one instance of snow in June, a trace that fell on June 2, 1910. Snow has never been observed in Chicago in July and August, with the earliest start to the fall snow season being traces that fell on Sept. 25 in 1928 and 1942.
Has it ever snowed in May in Chicago? ›
The latest measurable snowfall on record occurred in 1966, when the city recorded an accumulating snow on May 11. As for the final trace of snow of the year, that average date falls on April 14, according to officials. The latest trace amount of snow recorded in the city occurred on May 25, 1924.
When was the worst snowstorm in Chicago? ›
The Chicago blizzard of 1967 struck northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana on January 26–27, 1967, with a record-setting 23 inches (58 cm) snow fall in Chicago and its suburbs before the storm abated the next morning. As of 2024, it remains the greatest snowfall in one storm in Chicago history.
What is the coldest day in Illinois history? ›
The highest temperature recorded in Illinois was 117 °F (47.2 °C), recorded on July 14, 1954, at East St. Louis, while the lowest temperature was −38 °F (−38.9 °C), recorded on January 31, 2019, at Mount Carroll.
When was the worst winter in Chicago? ›
The Chicago blizzard of 1967 struck northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana on January 26–27, 1967, with a record-setting 23 inches (58 cm) snow fall in Chicago and its suburbs before the storm abated the next morning. As of 2024, it remains the greatest snowfall in one storm in Chicago history.
When was Chicago the coldest place on Earth? ›
In official temperature records dating from November 1, 1870, to the present, Chicago's lowest temperature reading stands at -27 degrees on January 20, 1985. The world's lowest temperature is -128.6 degrees at the (then) Soviet Vostok Station, Antarctica, on July 21, 1983.
What was the coldest temperature in Chicago in 2024? ›
The coldest temperature observed at O'Hare Airport during this stretch of cold weather was -10°F on both January 14th and 15th.