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Chicago vs New York weather: climate comparison
New York is the warmer of the two, averaging 54°F (12°C) over the year against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago. New York is wetter, with 46.2 in (1172 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
12.1°C New York - Annual precipitation
- 982.3 mm Chicago
1172.4 mm New York - Rainy days a year
- 121 Chicago
120 New York - Sunshine per day
- 8.8 h Chicago
8.7 h New York
Month by month
| Month | Chicago | New York |
|---|---|---|
| January | -0.9°C | 3.5°C |
| February | 0.6°C | 5.0°C |
| March | 5.4°C | 9.4°C |
| April | 11.4°C | 15.4°C |
| May | 17.9°C | 20.7°C |
| June | 24.2°C | 25.9°C |
| July | 26.6°C | 29.0°C |
| August | 25.8°C | 27.9°C |
| September | 22.5°C | 24.1°C |
| October | 15.6°C | 17.8°C |
| November | 8.3°C | 11.6°C |
| December | 2.2°C | 6.3°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Chicago | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 10.1°C | 12.1°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 27°C | Jul · 29°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -7°C | Jan · -4°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 34°C | 33°C |
| Annual precipitation | 982.3 mm | 1172.4 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 121 | 120 |
| Wettest / driest month | May / Feb | Mar / Nov |
| Average sunshine per day | 8.8 h | 8.7 h |
In short: New York is the warmest overall (12.1°C mean); New York gets the most precipitation (1172.4 mm a year); Chicago is the sunniest (8.8 h a day on average); New York has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Chicago 37.4°C (2022-06-21), New York 40.4°C (2025-06-24). Record low: Chicago -32.5°C (2019-01-31), New York -23.8°C (1996-02-05).
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 New York (40.74, -74.04).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in February, when New York runs 8°F / 4°C warmer, and narrowest in September (3°F / 2°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in December: New York gets 1.7 in (42 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 New York climate pages.
Compare Chicago or New York with another city
Questions people ask
Is Chicago warmer than New York?
New York is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 54°F (12°C) against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Chicago or New York?
New York, with about 46.2 in (1172 mm) of precipitation a year and 120 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 38.7 in (982 mm) and 121 days in Chicago.
Which is sunnier, Chicago or New York?
Chicago averages more sunshine: 8.8 h a day against 8.7 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.