Climateby Month

Chicago vs Phoenix weather

Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ · 1450 mi apart

July highs: 85°F in Chicago, 107°F in Phoenix (Phoenix is 22°F warmer). January highs: 33°F and 68°F (Phoenix is 35°F warmer). Chicago has about 127 wet days a year, Phoenix about 33. Muggy days: about 34 a year in Chicago, about 12 in Phoenix. Snow: 38.8 in a year in Chicago, 0.0 in in Phoenix.

Chicago, IL

0°20°40°60°80°100°120° 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

Phoenix, AZ

0°20°40°60°80°100°120° January: normal high 68°F (20°C), low 46°F (8°C) February: normal high 71°F (22°C), low 49°F (9°C) March: normal high 78°F (26°C), low 55°F (13°C) April: normal high 86°F (30°C), low 61°F (16°C) May: normal high 95°F (35°C), low 70°F (21°C) June: normal high 104°F (40°C), low 79°F (26°C) July: normal high 107°F (42°C), low 85°F (29°C) 107° 85° August: normal high 105°F (41°C), low 84°F (29°C) September: normal high 100°F (38°C), low 78°F (26°C) October: normal high 89°F (32°C), low 66°F (19°C) November: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 54°F (12°C) December: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 45°F (7°C) 66° 45° JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: January, February

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Phoenix (January high 68°F vs January high 33°F)
  • Cooler summers: Chicago (July high 85°F vs July high 107°F)
  • Fewer wet days: Phoenix (33 a year vs 127 a year)
  • Less humid: Phoenix (12 muggy days vs 34 muggy days)
  • Less snow: Phoenix (0.0 in vs 38.8 in)
  • More comfortable days: Phoenix (104 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 PhoenixWet days ChicagoWet days Phoenix
Winter (Dec-Feb)36°F68°F3212
Spring (Mar-May)60°F86°F366
Summer (Jun-Aug)83°F105°F309
Fall (Sep-Nov)63°F89°F297

Side by side over a year

ChicagoPhoenix
Hot days (90°F+)21173
Freezing nights1081
Muggy days3412
Comfortable days78104
Precipitation40.9 in7.2 in
Snowfall38.8 in0.0 in
Frost dateslast Apr 11, first Oct 31frost in about 18% of years
Daylight in June / December15.2 h / 9.2 h14.3 h / 10.0 h
Best monthsMay, SeptemberJanuary, February

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 PhoenixWet days ChicagoWet days Phoenix
January33°F68°F124
February37°F71°F94
March48°F78°F113
April60°F86°F122
May72°F95°F121
June81°F104°F111
July85°F107°F104
August83°F105°F95
September77°F100°F83
October64°F89°F112
November50°F77°F102
December38°F66°F114

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.
  • Phoenix, AZ: temperature from Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport (USW00023183), 4.3 mi ESE of the city center; precipitation from Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport (USW00023183). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

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