CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is relatively well distributed year-round in many areas with this climate, while others may see a marked reduction in wintry precipitation and even a wintertime drought. Snowfall, regardless of average seasonal totals, occurs in all areas with a humid continental climate and in many such places is more common than rain during the height of winter. In places with sufficient wintertime precipitation, the snow cover is often deep. Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and a very occasional tropical system. Though humidity levels are often high in locations with humid continental climates, it is important to note that the "humid" designation does not mean that the humidity levels are necessarily high, but that the climate is not dry enough to be classified as semi-arid or arid.

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfa". (Hot Summer Continental Climate).

The average temperature for the year in Chicago is 49.9°F (9.9°C). The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 74.0°F (23.3°C). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 23.8°F (-4.6°C).

The highest recorded temperature in Chicago is 104.0°F (40°C), which was recorded in June. The lowest recorded temperature in Chicago is -27.0°F (-32.8°C), which was recorded in January.

The average amount of precipitation for the year in Chicago is 36.9" (937.3 mm). The month with the most precipitation on average is August with 4.9" (124.5 mm) of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is January with an average of 1.7" (43.2 mm). There are an average of 124.1 days of precipitation, with the most precipitation occurring in April with 12.0 days and the least precipitation occurring in September with 8.3 days.

In terms of liquid precipitation, there are an average of 126.0 days of rain, with the most rain occurring in March with 13.0 days of rain, and the least rain occurring in February with 9.0 days of rain.

In Chicago, there's an average of 36.3" of snow (0 cm). The month with the most snow is January, with 10.8" of snow (27.4 cm).