If you plan to visit Chicago in April, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +54°F during the day and approximately 4 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 12 rainy days in the month and around 93 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
April is usually the driest month of the year in Chicago
Average weather
☀️
+54°F
Avg. max. temperature
+18°F
Min.
+86°F
Max.
93 mm
Total precipitation
64%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
4 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
12 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Chicago has OK weather in April.
Average temperature in Chicago in April
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Chicago for April based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +82°F during the day to a minimum of +32°F during the night, the temperature in April averages around +63°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 14% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +63°F to +55°F.
Is Chicago warm or cold in April?
Chicago is typically mild in April.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +43°F to +54°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +30°F to +41°F.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
Take a look at how April is compared to other months in Chicago:
Water temperature in Chicago in April
Water in Chicago in April is Cold. It varies from +37°F to +45°F, with an average of +41°F.The air temperature averaging +54°F is higher than the water temperature.
In April, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Chicago are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +74°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +37°F.
Can you swim in Chicago in April?
We would not recommend swimming in Chicago in April, the water is very cold (+41°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Chicago in April
Chicago weather looks like this, on average, in April and the surrounding months.
March
April
May
Avg. temperature
+43°F
+54°F
+66°F
Min. temperature
-4°F
+18°F
+32°F
Max. temperature
+77°F
+86°F
+97°F
Rainfall
50 mm
93 mm
101 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+38°F
+41°F
+45°F
Humidity
68%
64%
65%
Air pressure
1017 HPa
1014 HPa
1014 HPa
Sunny days
3
4
4
Cloudy days
13
10
10
Rainy days
7
12
13
Snowy days
6
2
0
April weather is still as ok as in March.It’s getting warmer as April arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +43°F to +54°F during the day.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 50 mm to 93 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 68% to 64%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during April, staying around 4 m/s.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in April, from 3 to 4.
But maybe it is worth considering traveling in May as the weather gets better.
Wind speed in Chicago in April based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 5 m/s getting up to 9 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Chicago is gradually decreasing during April, going from 9 m/s to 6 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during April in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 43% chance of rain on an average day in April, with total rainfall of approximately 122 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 26 mm, which is moderate rain.April is a pretty wet month with over 13 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
April is one of the rainiest months in Chicago, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Chicago wettest month is May, where a typical day has a 42% chance of precipitation and 101 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 7% chance of precipitation and 21 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during April in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 3% chance of snow on an average day in April, with a total monthly snowfall of approximately 1 mm.
Here’s how April is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last April in Chicago?
This is the weather in Chicago in April 2023:
1 April
☁️
+63°F
2 April
☁️
+55°F
3 April
☀️
+59°F
4 April
🌧️
+60°F
5 April
☁️
+73°F
6 April
☁️
+53°F
7 April
☀️
+51°F
8 April
☀️
+62°F
9 April
☀️
+69°F
10 April
☁️
+70°F
11 April
☀️
+77°F
12 April
☀️
+82°F
13 April
☀️
+81°F
14 April
☀️
+80°F
15 April
☁️
+81°F
16 April
🌧️
+78°F
17 April
🌨️
+41°F
18 April
☀️
+60°F
19 April
☁️
+62°F
20 April
☁️
+79°F
21 April
☁️
+68°F
22 April
☁️
+58°F
23 April
🌧️
+42°F
24 April
☁️
+50°F
25 April
🌧️
+47°F
26 April
☀️
+48°F
27 April
☀️
+64°F
28 April
☁️
+58°F
29 April
☁️
+58°F
30 April
☁️
+55°F
In April 2023 Chicago had 11 sunny days, 14 cloudy days, and 4 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +63°F, with an absolute maximum of +82°F and a minimum of +41°F. The average humidity was 66%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 33%. The average wind speed was 5 m/s, with a maximum of 16 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in April?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Chicago climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Chicago in April has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+54°F) and the highest in 2012 (+63°F). The driest year was 2005 with only 501 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1535 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Chicago in April:
Is April a good time to visit Chicago?
It’s always a good time to visit Chicago, but the weather is changeable in April, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Chicago in April?
April has mild temperatures in Chicago. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in Chicago in April?
Swimming in Chicago in April is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Chicago rainy in April?
Chicago is often rainy in April. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Chicago in April?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Chicago in April, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Chicago, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
