Climateby Month

Chicago vs Milwaukee weather

Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI · 83 mi apart

July highs: 85°F in Chicago, 82°F in Milwaukee (Chicago is 3°F warmer). January highs: 33°F and 31°F (Chicago is 2°F warmer). Chicago has about 127 wet days a year, Milwaukee about 125. Muggy days: about 34 a year in Chicago, about 27 in Milwaukee. Snow: 38.8 in a year in Chicago, 48.7 in in Milwaukee.

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

Milwaukee, WI

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 31°F (-1°C), low 17°F (-8°C) 31° 17° February: normal high 34°F (1°C), low 20°F (-7°C) March: normal high 44°F (7°C), low 29°F (-2°C) April: normal high 55°F (13°C), low 38°F (3°C) May: normal high 67°F (19°C), low 48°F (9°C) June: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 58°F (14°C) July: normal high 82°F (28°C), low 65°F (18°C) 82° 65° August: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 64°F (18°C) September: normal high 74°F (23°C), low 56°F (13°C) October: normal high 61°F (16°C), low 45°F (7°C) November: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 33°F (1°C) December: normal high 36°F (2°C), low 23°F (-5°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, June, September

Which city for what

  • Cooler summers: Milwaukee (July high 82°F vs July high 85°F)
  • Less snow: Chicago (38.8 in vs 48.7 in)

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 MilwaukeeWet days ChicagoWet days Milwaukee
Winter (Dec-Feb)36°F34°F3232
Spring (Mar-May)60°F55°F3635
Summer (Jun-Aug)83°F80°F3030
Fall (Sep-Nov)63°F61°F2929

Side by side over a year

ChicagoMilwaukee
Hot days (90°F+)219
Freezing nights108123
Muggy days3427
Comfortable days7875
Precipitation40.9 in34.6 in
Snowfall38.8 in48.7 in
Frost dateslast Apr 11, first Oct 31last Apr 19, first Oct 29
Daylight in June / December15.2 h / 9.2 h15.3 h / 9.1 h
Best monthsMay, SeptemberMay, June, September

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 MilwaukeeWet days ChicagoWet days Milwaukee
January33°F31°F1211
February37°F34°F910
March48°F44°F1111
April60°F55°F1212
May72°F67°F1212
June81°F77°F1111
July85°F82°F1010
August83°F80°F910
September77°F74°F89
October64°F61°F1110
November50°F48°F1010
December38°F36°F1110

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.
  • Milwaukee, WI: temperature from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (USW00014839), 5.8 mi S of the city center; precipitation from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (USW00014839). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

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