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Chicago vs Nashville weather: climate comparison
Nashville is the warmer of the two, averaging 60°F (16°C) over the year against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago. Nashville is wetter, with 55.1 in (1399 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
- 10.1°C Chicago
15.8°C Nashville - Annual precipitation
- 982.3 mm Chicago
1398.6 mm Nashville - Rainy days a year
- 121 Chicago
131 Nashville - Sunshine per day
- 8.8 h Chicago
8.9 h Nashville
Month by month
| Month | Chicago | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| January | -0.9°C | 8.1°C |
| February | 0.6°C | 10.8°C |
| March | 5.4°C | 15.6°C |
| April | 11.4°C | 20.6°C |
| May | 17.9°C | 25.4°C |
| June | 24.2°C | 29.8°C |
| July | 26.6°C | 31.4°C |
| August | 25.8°C | 31.0°C |
| September | 22.5°C | 27.9°C |
| October | 15.6°C | 21.9°C |
| November | 8.3°C | 15.1°C |
| December | 2.2°C | 10.1°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Chicago | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 10.1°C | 15.8°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 27°C | Jul · 31°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -7°C | Jan · -1°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 34°C | 32°C |
| Annual precipitation | 982.3 mm | 1398.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 121 | 131 |
| Wettest / driest month | May / Feb | Apr / Oct |
| Average sunshine per day | 8.8 h | 8.9 h |
In short: Nashville is the warmest overall (15.8°C mean); Nashville gets the most precipitation (1398.6 mm a year); Nashville is the sunniest (8.9 h a day on average); Nashville has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Chicago 37.4°C (2022-06-21), Nashville 41.4°C (2012-06-29). Record low: Chicago -32.5°C (2019-01-31), Nashville -20.9°C (1996-02-04).
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 Nashville (36.17, -86.73).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in February, when Nashville runs 18°F / 10°C warmer, and narrowest in July (9°F / 5°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in February: Nashville gets 2.4 in (62 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 Nashville climate pages.
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Questions people ask
Is Chicago warmer than Nashville?
Nashville is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 60°F (16°C) against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Chicago or Nashville?
Nashville, with about 55.1 in (1399 mm) of precipitation a year and 131 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 38.7 in (982 mm) and 121 days in Chicago.
Which is sunnier, Chicago or Nashville?
Nashville averages more sunshine: 8.9 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.