Monthly climate guide
Chicago weather in December
Expect cold weather in Chicago in December: afternoons reach about 3°C (38°F), while nights drop to around -1°C (30°F). Around 53 mm of rain falls over the month (some rain), and skies are often cloudy. Daytime highs are 5°C cooler than November and 4°C warmer than January.
What stands out in December
- Chicago is usually about 2°C warmer than Milwaukee, 130 km away, in December.
- Days and nights are close, only about 4°C apart.
- Nights often drop below freezing (average low -1°C), so expect frost and icy mornings.
- December is among Chicago's three coolest months.
Avg high
3°C
38°F
Avg low
-1°C
30°F
Rainfall
53 mm
some rain
Humidity
85%
relative
Sky
73%
cloud · often cloudy
Chicago weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0°C / 31°F | -5°C / 22°F | 48 mm | 86% | 70% |
| February | 0°C / 32°F | -6°C / 22°F | 61 mm | 85% | 71% |
| March | 5°C / 40°F | -1°C / 30°F | 57 mm | 82% | 65% |
| April | 10°C / 49°F | 3°C / 38°F | 108 mm | 81% | 65% |
| May | 15°C / 60°F | 9°C / 49°F | 129 mm | 83% | 65% |
| June | 21°C / 70°F | 15°C / 59°F | 113 mm | 82% | 57% |
| July | 25°C / 77°F | 20°C / 68°F | 93 mm | 79% | 47% |
| August | 25°C / 77°F | 20°C / 68°F | 95 mm | 76% | 46% |
| September | 22°C / 72°F | 17°C / 62°F | 85 mm | 77% | 48% |
| October | 15°C / 60°F | 10°C / 49°F | 107 mm | 78% | 59% |
| November | 8°C / 47°F | 3°C / 37°F | 59 mm | 80% | 63% |
| December | 3°C / 38°F | -1°C / 30°F | 53 mm | 85% | 73% |
What to pack for December
- A proper insulated winter coat
- A hat, scarf and gloves
- Thermal base layers and warm, grippy boots for icy mornings
- A small travel umbrella, just in case
Is December a good time to visit Chicago?
Our Chicago guide recommends: May to June or September to October, avoiding the bitter winter cold and the most humid days of summer.
A river or lake architecture boat tour is one of the best ways to see the skyline that made Chicago famous for its buildings.
Best time to visit Chicago →Other United States cities in December
Cite or embed this data
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Chicago weather in December. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/chicago/december
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/chicago/december">Chicago weather in December</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/usa/chicago" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Chicago weather in December"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/chicago/december">Chicago weather in December</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Chicago in December: quick answers
Is December a good time to visit Chicago?
December is cool in Chicago, with highs around 3°C. Better for museums and city walks than the beach, and usually quieter.
How warm is Chicago in December?
Average highs are about 3°C (38°F) and average lows about -1°C (30°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Chicago in December?
Chicago typically gets around 53 mm of rain in December — some rain.
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
May to June or September to October, avoiding the bitter winter cold and the most humid days of summer.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Chicago (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.