WeatherArchive / Compare cities / Chicago vs Washington, D.C.
Chicago vs Washington, D.C. weather: climate comparison
Washington, D.C. is the warmer of the two, averaging 57°F (14°C) over the year against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago. Washington, D.C. is wetter, with 45.5 in (1157 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
14.0°C Washington, D.C. - Annual precipitation
- 982.3 mm Chicago
1156.6 mm Washington, D.C. - Rainy days a year
- 121 Chicago
120 Washington, D.C. - Sunshine per day
- 8.8 h Chicago
8.9 h Washington, D.C.
Month by month
| Month | Chicago | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| January | -0.9°C | 5.9°C |
| February | 0.6°C | 8.1°C |
| March | 5.4°C | 12.8°C |
| April | 11.4°C | 18.8°C |
| May | 17.9°C | 23.5°C |
| June | 24.2°C | 28.6°C |
| July | 26.6°C | 30.9°C |
| August | 25.8°C | 29.6°C |
| September | 22.5°C | 25.9°C |
| October | 15.6°C | 19.7°C |
| November | 8.3°C | 13.4°C |
| December | 2.2°C | 8.2°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Chicago | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 10.1°C | 14.0°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 27°C | Jul · 31°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -7°C | Jan · -2°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 34°C | 33°C |
| Annual precipitation | 982.3 mm | 1156.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 121 | 120 |
| Wettest / driest month | May / Feb | Jul / Nov |
| Average sunshine per day | 8.8 h | 8.9 h |
In short: Washington, D.C. is the warmest overall (14.0°C mean); Washington, D.C. gets the most precipitation (1156.6 mm a year); Washington, D.C. is the sunniest (8.9 h a day on average); Washington, D.C. has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Chicago 37.4°C (2022-06-21), Washington, D.C. 41.1°C (2012-07-07). Record low: Chicago -32.5°C (2019-01-31), Washington, D.C. -23.3°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 Washington, D.C. (38.91, -77.07).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in February, when Washington, D.C. runs 13°F / 7°C warmer, and narrowest in September (6°F / 3°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in September: Washington, D.C. gets 1.6 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 Washington, D.C. climate pages.
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Questions people ask
Is Chicago warmer than Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 57°F (14°C) against 50°F (10°C) in Chicago (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Chicago or Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C., with about 45.5 in (1157 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 Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. 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.