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Chicago vs Los Angeles weather: climate comparison
Los Angeles is the warmer of the two, averaging 65°F (19°C) over the year against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago. Chicago is wetter, with 38.7 in (982 mm) of precipitation a year to Los Angeles's 14.0 in (355 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 10.1°C Chicago
18.6°C Los Angeles - Annual precipitation
- 982.3 mm Chicago
355.0 mm Los Angeles - Rainy days a year
- 121 Chicago
32 Los Angeles - Sunshine per day
- 8.8 h Chicago
11.0 h Los Angeles
Month by month
| Month | Chicago | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| January | -0.9°C | 19.1°C |
| February | 0.6°C | 19.3°C |
| March | 5.4°C | 20.9°C |
| April | 11.4°C | 23.2°C |
| May | 17.9°C | 25.1°C |
| June | 24.2°C | 27.9°C |
| July | 26.6°C | 31.2°C |
| August | 25.8°C | 32.2°C |
| September | 22.5°C | 30.8°C |
| October | 15.6°C | 27.2°C |
| November | 8.3°C | 22.9°C |
| December | 2.2°C | 18.8°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Chicago | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 10.1°C | 18.6°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 27°C | Aug · 32°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -7°C | Dec · 7°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 34°C | 25°C |
| Annual precipitation | 982.3 mm | 355.0 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 121 | 32 |
| Wettest / driest month | May / Feb | Feb / Jul |
| Average sunshine per day | 8.8 h | 11.0 h |
In short: Los Angeles is the warmest overall (18.6°C mean); Chicago gets the most precipitation (982.3 mm a year); Los Angeles is the sunniest (11.0 h a day on average); Los Angeles has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Chicago 37.4°C (2022-06-21), Los Angeles 45.7°C (2024-09-06). Record low: Chicago -32.5°C (2019-01-31), Los Angeles -1.9°C (2013-01-14).
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 Chicago (41.86, -87.65) and Los Angeles (34.06, -118.24).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in January, when Los Angeles runs 36°F / 20°C warmer, and narrowest in June (7°F / 4°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in May: Chicago gets 4.0 in (102 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 Chicago climate and Los Angeles climate pages.
Compare Chicago or Los Angeles with another city
Questions people ask
Is Chicago warmer than Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 65°F (19°C) against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Chicago or Los Angeles?
Chicago, with about 38.7 in (982 mm) of precipitation a year and 121 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 14.0 in (355 mm) and 32 days in Los Angeles.
Which is sunnier, Chicago or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles averages more sunshine: 11.0 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.