Climateby Month

Chicago vs Nashville weather

Chicago, IL and Nashville, TN · 395 mi apart

July highs: 85°F in Chicago, 91°F in Nashville (Nashville is 6°F warmer). January highs: 33°F and 49°F (Nashville is 16°F warmer). Chicago has about 127 wet days a year, Nashville about 123. Muggy days: about 34 a year in Chicago, about 80 in Nashville. Snow: 38.8 in a year in Chicago, 4.7 in in Nashville.

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

Nashville, TN

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 49°F (9°C), low 30°F (-1°C) 49° 30° February: normal high 54°F (12°C), low 33°F (1°C) March: normal high 63°F (17°C), low 40°F (4°C) April: normal high 73°F (23°C), low 49°F (9°C) May: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 58°F (14°C) June: normal high 88°F (31°C), low 66°F (19°C) July: normal high 91°F (33°C), low 71°F (22°C) 91° 71° August: normal high 90°F (32°C), low 69°F (21°C) September: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 62°F (17°C) October: normal high 74°F (23°C), low 50°F (10°C) November: normal high 61°F (16°C), low 39°F (4°C) December: normal high 52°F (11°C), low 33°F (1°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: April

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Nashville (January high 49°F vs January high 33°F)
  • Cooler summers: Chicago (July high 85°F vs July high 91°F)
  • Less humid: Chicago (34 muggy days vs 80 muggy days)
  • Less snow: Nashville (4.7 in vs 38.8 in)
  • Longer growing season: Nashville (217 frost-free days vs 201 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 NashvilleWet days ChicagoWet days Nashville
Winter (Dec-Feb)36°F52°F3233
Spring (Mar-May)60°F72°F3634
Summer (Jun-Aug)83°F90°F3030
Fall (Sep-Nov)63°F73°F2925

Side by side over a year

ChicagoNashville
Hot days (90°F+)2154
Freezing nights10866
Muggy days3480
Comfortable days7884
Precipitation40.9 in50.5 in
Snowfall38.8 in4.7 in
Frost dateslast Apr 11, first Oct 31last Mar 31, first Nov 3
Daylight in June / December15.2 h / 9.2 h14.6 h / 9.7 h
Best monthsMay, SeptemberApril

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 NashvilleWet days ChicagoWet days Nashville
January33°F49°F1211
February37°F54°F911
March48°F63°F1112
April60°F73°F1211
May72°F80°F1212
June81°F88°F1111
July85°F91°F1010
August83°F90°F99
September77°F84°F88
October64°F74°F118
November50°F61°F109
December38°F52°F1111

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.
  • Nashville, TN: temperature from Nashville Intl Airport (USW00013897), 6.4 mi SE of the city center; precipitation from Nashville Intl Airport (USW00013897). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

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