Climateby Month

Chicago vs Minneapolis weather

Chicago, IL and Minneapolis, MN · 355 mi apart

July highs: 85°F in Chicago, 83°F in Minneapolis (Chicago is 2°F warmer). January highs: 33°F and 24°F (Chicago is 9°F warmer). Chicago has about 127 wet days a year, Minneapolis about 119. Muggy days: about 34 a year in Chicago, about 22 in Minneapolis. Snow: 38.8 in a year in Chicago, 54.3 in in Minneapolis.

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

Minneapolis, MN

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 24°F (-4°C), low 9°F (-13°C) 24° 9° February: normal high 29°F (-2°C), low 13°F (-11°C) March: normal high 42°F (6°C), low 25°F (-4°C) April: normal high 57°F (14°C), low 38°F (3°C) May: normal high 69°F (21°C), low 50°F (10°C) June: normal high 79°F (26°C), low 60°F (16°C) July: normal high 83°F (28°C), low 65°F (18°C) 83° 65° August: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 63°F (17°C) September: normal high 73°F (23°C), low 54°F (12°C) October: normal high 58°F (14°C), low 41°F (5°C) November: normal high 42°F (6°C), low 28°F (-2°C) December: normal high 29°F (-2°C), low 15°F (-9°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, September

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Chicago (January high 33°F vs January high 24°F)
  • Less humid: Minneapolis (22 muggy days vs 34 muggy days)
  • Less snow: Chicago (38.8 in vs 54.3 in)
  • Longer growing season: Chicago (201 frost-free days vs 175 frost-free days)

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 MinneapolisWet days ChicagoWet days Minneapolis
Winter (Dec-Feb)36°F27°F3227
Spring (Mar-May)60°F56°F3633
Summer (Jun-Aug)83°F81°F3032
Fall (Sep-Nov)63°F58°F2927

Side by side over a year

ChicagoMinneapolis
Hot days (90°F+)2113
Freezing nights108147
Muggy days3422
Comfortable days7878
Precipitation40.9 in31.6 in
Snowfall38.8 in54.3 in
Frost dateslast Apr 11, first Oct 31last Apr 23, first Oct 16
Daylight in June / December15.2 h / 9.2 h15.6 h / 8.8 h
Best monthsMay, SeptemberMay, 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 MinneapolisWet days ChicagoWet days Minneapolis
January33°F24°F1210
February37°F29°F98
March48°F42°F119
April60°F57°F1211
May72°F69°F1212
June81°F79°F1112
July85°F83°F1010
August83°F81°F910
September77°F73°F89
October64°F58°F1110
November50°F42°F108
December38°F29°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.
  • Minneapolis, MN: temperature from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (USW00014922), 6.9 mi SSE of the city center; precipitation from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (USW00014922). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

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