Weather in Chicago in December
December in Chicago is a coat month. Treat it as cities, food and short walks, not as a terrace holiday.
In United States, this is how Chicago actually wears December, not how a country centroid would. Compared with August and January, December sits in the middle of Chicago's year.
Pack for Chicago in December, not for a brochure that was photographed in another season.
- Average temp
- 0°C
-4–3°C
- Rainfall
- 59 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 16 km/h
What to expect
Daytime
You want a proper coat in Chicago in December, not a festival jacket. Wind makes the same afternoon feel sharper than the map suggests.
Outdoor time is the middle of the day. Finish plans before the light goes. Evenings are for indoors.
Rain
Mixed skies in Chicago in December. Dry days and wet days share the month. Outdoor plans need a backup, not a cancellation policy.
Pack a shell you will actually carry. The monthly table is the place for totals. This is the feel: usable, interrupted.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Chicago
Dates are a starting point for December.
Travel guides for Chicago
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Chicago
TemperatureRainfall
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FAQs about Chicago
Climate averages for Chicago, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Chicago is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 25°C.
May is the wettest month, with about 121 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
