Chicago weather in May
Chicago in May averages 16°C (62°F) and 121 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in Chicago, May is the fifth warmest and the wettest.
- Average temp
- 16°C (62°F)
11–22°C · 52–71°F
- Rainfall
- 121 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 16 km/h
What is Chicago like in May?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Chicago in May?
A light rain jacket
About 121 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 11°C (52°F).
May compared with April and June
May in Chicago is 6.2°C warmer than April and 15 mm wetter than it, which averages 10°C (50°F).
May in Chicago is 5.6°C cooler than June and about as wet as it, which averages 22°C (72°F).
Daylight in Chicago in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 14 hours 35 minutes in Chicago, rising about 05:29 and setting about 20:04 local time.
May ends 57 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 38 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Chicago
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Chicago
What to read before you book.
Chicago weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | -3°C / 26°F | 58 mm |
| February | -1°C / 29°F | 54 mm |
| March | 4°C / 39°F | 68 mm |
| April | 10°C / 50°F | 105 mm |
| May | 16°C / 62°F | 121 mm |
| June | 22°C / 72°F | 115 mm |
| July | 25°C / 76°F | 102 mm |
| August | 24°C / 74°F | 104 mm |
| September | 20°C / 67°F | 85 mm |
| October | 13°C / 55°F | 98 mm |
| November | 6°C / 42°F | 69 mm |
| December | 0°C / 31°F | 59 mm |
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Chicago in May
May climate averages for Chicago, 1991–2020.
Chicago averages 16°C (62°F) in May, ranging from about 11°C (52°F) at night to 22°C (71°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 121 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. May averages 16°C (62°F) against 22°C (72°F) in June — 5.6°C cooler.
May is 6.2°C warmer than April, and 15 mm wetter.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, May to October, on temperature and rainfall together.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 14 hours 35 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 15 hours 13 minutes in June and 9 hours 9 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 05:29 and sunset about 20:04 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 57 minutes longer than it starts.
