Planning a trip to Chicago in May? You are in luck! The weather is generally good, with an average maximum temperature of +66°F and approximately 4 sunny days. Just be prepared for some rain, as there are usually around 13 rainy days and 101 mm of precipitation. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+66°F
Avg. max. temperature
+32°F
Min.
+97°F
Max.
101 mm
Total precipitation
65%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
4 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
13 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Chicago has good weather in May.
Average temperature in Chicago in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Chicago for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +88°F during the day to a minimum of +39°F during the night, the temperature in May averages around +70°F.
The average maximum temperature goes up 85% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +46°F to +88°F.
Is Chicago warm or cold in May?
Chicago is typically mild in May.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +54°F to +66°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +41°F to +54°F.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Chicago:
Water temperature in Chicago in May
Water in Chicago in May is Cold. It varies from +40°F to +50°F, with an average of +45°F.The air temperature averaging +66°F is higher than the water temperature.
In May, 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 May?
We would not recommend swimming in Chicago in May, the water is very cold (+45°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 May
Chicago weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+54°F
+66°F
+77°F
Min. temperature
+18°F
+32°F
+43°F
Max. temperature
+86°F
+97°F
+100°F
Rainfall
93 mm
101 mm
91 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+41°F
+45°F
+58°F
Humidity
64%
65%
65%
Air pressure
1014 HPa
1014 HPa
1013 HPa
Sunny days
4
4
4
Cloudy days
10
10
10
Rainy days
12
13
11
Snowy days
2
0
0
May often has better weather than April.It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +54°F to +66°F during the day.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 93 mm to 101 mm.Humidity rises from 64% to 65%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 4 m/s.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 4 sunny days during the month.
June brings much the same weather, it remains good.
Wind speed in Chicago in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 6 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 May, going from 6 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 32% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 82 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 22 mm, which is considered light rain.May is a pretty wet month with over 10 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
May 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.
How was the weather last May in Chicago?
This is the weather in Chicago in May 2023:
1 May
🌧️
+46°F
2 May
☁️
+52°F
3 May
☀️
+51°F
4 May
☀️
+72°F
5 May
☀️
+78°F
6 May
☁️
+75°F
7 May
☁️
+81°F
8 May
☁️
+60°F
9 May
☀️
+64°F
10 May
☁️
+76°F
11 May
☁️
+81°F
12 May
☁️
+73°F
13 May
☁️
+64°F
14 May
☁️
+61°F
15 May
☁️
+62°F
16 May
☁️
+80°F
17 May
☀️
+58°F
18 May
🌫️
+71°F
19 May
☁️
+74°F
20 May
☀️
+68°F
21 May
☀️
+77°F
22 May
☀️
+78°F
23 May
☀️
+81°F
24 May
☀️
+77°F
25 May
☁️
+57°F
26 May
☀️
+65°F
27 May
☀️
+69°F
28 May
☁️
+74°F
29 May
☀️
+75°F
30 May
☁️
+81°F
31 May
☁️
+87°F
In May 2023 Chicago had 13 sunny days, 16 cloudy days, and 1 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +70°F, with an absolute maximum of +88°F and a minimum of +46°F. The average humidity was 66%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 34%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Chicago climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Chicago in May 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 May:
Is May a good time to visit Chicago?
May is a really good time to go to Chicago. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit Chicago.
Can you sunbathe in Chicago in May?
May 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 May?
Swimming in Chicago in May is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Chicago rainy in May?
Chicago is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Chicago in May?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Chicago in May, 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.
