Temperature
Pleasant by day, brisk at night.
66°Ftypical May high
Typical range
May climate
May in Chicago
United States · North America
Mild days with cool nights and some sun.
Good overall
Daytime high
66°F
Lows around 51°F
Rain
Several rainy days
Sun
10.5 h/day
Air feel
Very dry
When to visit
Month-by-month fit
Best
Precipitation
Several rainy days. About 13 wet days, the highest monthly average.
42%wet-day frequency
Precip amountWet-day chanceSnowfall
Sunshine
A mix of sunshine and cloud.
10.7 hMay sunshine
Heat & humidity by month
Very dryMay Heat feel
Easy airWarm airHot airHumid airVery humid air
Hourly temperature pattern
In May, afternoons feel about 56° and nights feel near 47°.
FrigidFreezingVery coldColdCoolComfortableWarmNight hours
Clear sky
Mostly cloudy skies this month.
38%May Clear sky
Clear skyCloud
Wind pattern
Breezy conditions are typical in May. More a comfort consideration than a planning concern.
10 mphMay Breezy
More detailIncludes daypart comfort
Typical May day
May late afternoons are around 62°F, easing to about 60°F in early evening.
Avg temp Typical range
Morning58°F
Rain15%
Cloud62%
Humid airLow
Sun intensityModerate
Best windowMidday62°F
Rain18%
Cloud66%
Humid airLow
Sun intensityStrong
Late afternoon62°F
Rain17%
Cloud65%
Humid airLow
Sun intensityModerate
Early evening59°F
Rain15%
Cloud62%
Humid airLow
Sun intensityMinimal
Data tableView month-by-month numbers
View month-by-month numbers
| Month | High°F | Low°F | Rainin | Wet days | Sunh | Humidity% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31 | 20 | 2.3 | 9 | 5.6 | 74 |
| Feb | 35 | 22 | 2.1 | 8 | 7.0 | 73 |
| Mar | 44 | 31 | 2.7 | 10 | 8.5 | 71 |
| Apr | 55 | 40 | 4.0 | 12 | 9.3 | 69 |
| May | 66 | 51 | 4.3 | 13 | 10.7 | 71 |
| Jun | 77 | 63 | 3.8 | 12 | 12.0 | 71 |
| Jul | 81 | 68 | 3.2 | 11 | 12.4 | 70 |
| Aug | 80 | 67 | 3.4 | 11 | 11.6 | 72 |
| Sep | 74 | 60 | 2.7 | 9 | 9.9 | 71 |
| Oct | 61 | 48 | 3.3 | 10 | 8.0 | 69 |
| Nov | 48 | 37 | 2.3 | 8 | 6.0 | 70 |
| Dec | 37 | 27 | 2.5 | 9 | 5.2 | 75 |
Similar climates
Similar
Similar travel styleNew York CityUnited StatesSimilar travel styleTorontoCanadaSimilar travel styleHalifaxCanadaSimilar travel styleIndianapolisUnited States
Want a side-by-side climate view? Compare Chicago with New York City.
Climate data notePlanning guidance, not a forecast
Typical monthly values are based on long-term climate records. Useful for planning, not a forecast. Check the weather before you travel.
Sunshine: source type is not yet identified at metric level.
Local microclimates can vary by beach, neighborhood, trail, or elevation.
Last updated: Jun 1, 2026
Data & methodology