Weather in Chicago in May
May in Chicago is cool outdoor weather: usable if you dress for it, not a beach brief.
In United States, this is how Chicago actually wears May, not how a country centroid would. Compared with August and January, May sits in the middle of Chicago's year.
- Average temp
- 16°C
11–22°C
- Rainfall
- 121 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 16 km/h
What to expect
Daytime
Cool days in Chicago: a jumper you can take off, a shell in the bag. Walking is fine. Lingering outside without a layer is optimism.
Mornings and evenings are colder than the postcard. Pack for both, especially if you leave the built-up centre.
Rain
May is the wet side of the year in Chicago, the wettest stretch on these averages. Days can be heavy. Plans that cannot survive rain are the wrong plans.
This is not a reason to skip Chicago if you like the place. It is a reason to pack for weather and to stop treating every grey hour as a failed holiday.
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 May.
Travel guides for Chicago
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Chicago
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
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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.
