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Atlanta vs Chicago weather: climate comparison
Atlanta is the warmer of the two, averaging 62°F (17°C) over the year against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago. Atlanta is wetter, with 49.0 in (1245 mm) of precipitation a year to Chicago's 38.7 in (982 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 16.7°C Atlanta
10.1°C Chicago - Annual precipitation
- 1245.1 mm Atlanta
982.3 mm Chicago - Rainy days a year
- 128 Atlanta
121 Chicago - Sunshine per day
- 9.1 h Atlanta
8.8 h Chicago
Month by month
| Month | Atlanta | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| January | 10.9°C | -0.9°C |
| February | 13.5°C | 0.6°C |
| March | 17.4°C | 5.4°C |
| April | 21.8°C | 11.4°C |
| May | 26.2°C | 17.9°C |
| June | 29.6°C | 24.2°C |
| July | 30.8°C | 26.6°C |
| August | 30.4°C | 25.8°C |
| September | 27.5°C | 22.5°C |
| October | 22.4°C | 15.6°C |
| November | 16.8°C | 8.3°C |
| December | 12.4°C | 2.2°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Atlanta | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 16.7°C | 10.1°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 31°C | Jul · 27°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · 2°C | Jan · -7°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 29°C | 34°C |
| Annual precipitation | 1245.1 mm | 982.3 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 128 | 121 |
| Wettest / driest month | Jul / Oct | May / Feb |
| Average sunshine per day | 9.1 h | 8.8 h |
In short: Atlanta is the warmest overall (16.7°C mean); Atlanta gets the most precipitation (1245.1 mm a year); Atlanta is the sunniest (9.1 h a day on average); Atlanta has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Atlanta 39.9°C (2012-06-30), Chicago 37.4°C (2022-06-21). Record low: Atlanta -13.6°C (2022-12-24), Chicago -32.5°C (2019-01-31).
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (CC BY 4.0). Values are ERA5 reanalysis model data on a ~9–25 km grid, not readings from a weather station, so a single town’s thermometer can differ by a few degrees and local showers can be missed. Monthly means of daily ERA5 values, 1996–2025, for the grid cells nearest Atlanta (33.78, -84.40) and Chicago (41.86, -87.65).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in February, when Atlanta runs 23°F / 13°C warmer, and narrowest in July (7°F / 4°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in February: Atlanta gets 2.3 in (60 mm) more on average.
Add a third or fourth city, or swap in any other place, in the full comparison tool. For one city in depth, see the Atlanta climate and Chicago climate pages.
Compare Atlanta or Chicago with another city
Questions people ask
Is Atlanta warmer than Chicago?
Atlanta is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 62°F (17°C) against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Atlanta or Chicago?
Atlanta, with about 49.0 in (1245 mm) of precipitation a year and 128 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 38.7 in (982 mm) and 121 days in Chicago.
Which is sunnier, Atlanta or Chicago?
Atlanta averages more sunshine: 9.1 h a day against 8.8 h. Sunshine duration is modelled from cloud cover.
How reliable is this comparison?
Both cities use the same 30-year reanalysis, so differences are consistent. Absolute values describe a grid cell several kilometres wide and can differ by a degree or two from the airport station.