Places › Chicago, IL › May
Chicago in May
One of the best months — score 88 of 100
Typical May days in Chicago reach about 71°F with nights near 52°F; rain is frequent — about 13 days see some rain, usually in showers.
Avg high
71°F
1991–2020 normal
Avg low
52°F
1991–2020 normal
Rain total
4.09 in
in a typical May
Rain days
13
days with at least 0.01 in
Daylight
14h 31m
at mid-May, computed
What to pack for Chicago in May
- A light jacket or fleece for evenings.
- Layers — afternoons run about 19° warmer than mornings.
- A waterproof shell — rain falls on about 13 days in a typical May.
Every packing line is triggered by a number on this page — the rules are on How we pick.
May vs. the alternatives
The whole year in Chicago
JAN
33°F
Rain 8 days
Daylight 9h 27mFEB
37°F
Rain 8 days
Daylight 10h 31mMAR
48°F
Rain 10 days
Daylight 11h 48mAPR
60°F
Rain 12 days
Daylight 13h 17mMAY
71°F
Rain 13 days
Daylight 14h 31mJUN
81°F
Rain 12 days
Daylight 15h 12mJUL
85°F
Rain 10 days
Daylight 14h 56mAUG
83°F
Rain 10 days
Daylight 13h 52mSEP
76°F
★ Best
Rain 9 days
Daylight 12h 26mOCT
63°F
Rain 12 days
Daylight 11h 00mNOV
49°F
Rain 9 days
Daylight 9h 45mDEC
38°F
Rain 10 days
Daylight 9h 09m
33°F
Rain 8 days
Daylight 9h 27mFEB
37°F
Rain 8 days
Daylight 10h 31mMAR
48°F
Rain 10 days
Daylight 11h 48mAPR
60°F
Rain 12 days
Daylight 13h 17mMAY
71°F
Rain 13 days
Daylight 14h 31mJUN
81°F
Rain 12 days
Daylight 15h 12mJUL
85°F
Rain 10 days
Daylight 14h 56mAUG
83°F
Rain 10 days
Daylight 13h 52mSEP
76°F
★ Best
Rain 9 days
Daylight 12h 26mOCT
63°F
Rain 12 days
Daylight 11h 00mNOV
49°F
Rain 9 days
Daylight 9h 45mDEC
38°F
Rain 10 days
Daylight 9h 09m
Averages are the 1991–2020 climate normals (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information) for the station named on each page. Rain days = days with at least 0.01 in of precipitation. Daylight is computed for the middle of the month.