Climateby Month

Chicago vs Denver weather

Chicago, IL and Denver, CO · 917 mi apart

July highs: 85°F in Chicago, 90°F in Denver (Denver is 5°F warmer). January highs: 33°F and 47°F (Denver is 14°F warmer). Chicago has about 127 wet days a year, Denver about 84. Muggy days: about 34 a year in Chicago, almost none in Denver. Snow: 38.8 in a year in Chicago, 49.0 in in Denver.

Chicago, IL

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 33°F (1°C), low 20°F (-7°C) 33° 20° February: normal high 37°F (3°C), low 23°F (-5°C) March: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 32°F (0°C) April: normal high 60°F (16°C), low 42°F (6°C) May: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 52°F (11°C) June: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 63°F (17°C) July: normal high 85°F (29°C), low 68°F (20°C) 85° 68° August: normal high 83°F (28°C), low 67°F (19°C) September: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 59°F (15°C) October: normal high 64°F (18°C), low 47°F (8°C) November: normal high 50°F (10°C), low 35°F (2°C) December: normal high 38°F (3°C), low 25°F (-4°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, September

Denver, CO

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 47°F (8°C), low 18°F (-8°C) February: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 19°F (-7°C) March: normal high 56°F (13°C), low 27°F (-3°C) April: normal high 63°F (17°C), low 34°F (1°C) May: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 43°F (6°C) June: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 53°F (12°C) July: normal high 90°F (32°C), low 59°F (15°C) 90° 59° August: normal high 88°F (31°C), low 57°F (14°C) September: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 48°F (9°C) October: normal high 67°F (19°C), low 36°F (2°C) November: normal high 55°F (13°C), low 26°F (-3°C) December: normal high 46°F (8°C), low 18°F (-8°C) 46° 18° JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Denver (January high 47°F vs January high 33°F)
  • Cooler summers: Chicago (July high 85°F vs July high 90°F)
  • Fewer wet days: Denver (84 a year vs 127 a year)
  • Less humid: Denver (0 muggy days vs 34 muggy days)
  • Less snow: Chicago (38.8 in vs 49.0 in)
  • Longer growing season: Chicago (201 frost-free days vs 156 frost-free days)
  • More comfortable days: Denver (92 a year vs 78 a year)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high ChicagoAvg high DenverWet days ChicagoWet days Denver
Winter (Dec-Feb)36°F47°F3215
Spring (Mar-May)60°F64°F3626
Summer (Jun-Aug)83°F87°F3026
Fall (Sep-Nov)63°F67°F2917

Side by side over a year

ChicagoDenver
Hot days (90°F+)2142
Freezing nights108156
Muggy days340
Comfortable days7892
Precipitation40.9 in15.4 in
Snowfall38.8 in49.0 in
Frost dateslast Apr 11, first Oct 31last May 4, first Oct 8
Daylight in June / December15.2 h / 9.2 h14.9 h / 9.4 h
Best monthsMay, SeptemberMay

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh ChicagoHigh DenverWet days ChicagoWet days Denver
January33°F47°F125
February37°F48°F95
March48°F56°F117
April60°F63°F128
May72°F72°F1211
June81°F84°F118
July85°F90°F109
August83°F88°F99
September77°F80°F86
October64°F67°F115
November50°F55°F106
December38°F46°F115

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Chicago, IL: temperature from Chicago Midway Airport 3SW (USC00111577), 10 mi SW of the city center; precipitation from Chicago Midway Airport 3SW (USC00111577). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Denver, CO: temperature from Denver-Stapleton (USW00023062), 6.3 mi ENE of the city center; precipitation from Denver-Stapleton (USW00023062). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.