Chicago, IL weather in April
Expect cool weather with frequent rain in Chicago in April, with highs near 60°F and lows near 42°F. Rain or snow falls on about 12 days. Snowfall averages about 1.0 in.
- Normal high
- 60°F
- Normal low
- 42°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 4.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.0 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 54°F | 66°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 47°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:33 am / 7:15 pm | 5:48 am / 7:47 pm |
| Daylight | 12.7 h | 14.0 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical April day
- 6 am45°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am51°Fdew point 37°F
- Noon55°Fdew point 37°F
- 3 pm56°Fdew point 37°F
- 6 pm53°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 pm50°Fdew point 36°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Chicago Midway Airport (7 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F9 of 30
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 30
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 30
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 30
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below4 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 4.2 in; a dry April brings about 3.1 in and a wet one about 5.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.0 in.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202010: average high 66°F
- Coolest April2018: average high 51°F
- Wettest April2013: 8.0 in
- Driest April2005: 1.6 in
- Highest reading90°F (April 26, 1994)
- Lowest reading21°F (April 7, 2018)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
April compared with March and May
| March | April | May | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 60°F | 72°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 42°F | 52°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 9 | 14 |
| Daylight | 12.0 h | 13.4 h | 14.6 h |
Highs change by +12°F from March and +12°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Springfield, IL176 mi · high 66°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Milwaukee, WI83 mi · high 55°F · 12 wet days
How Chicago ranks in April
- Normal high271st warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days320th driest of 378
- Comfortable days222nd most of 340
What to pack for Chicago in April
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
Frost in April
The last spring frost typically comes around Apr 11; in 1 year in 10 it comes after Apr 27. All frost dates for Chicago.
Heating and cooling
April has 435 heating degree days and 11 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Chicago in April?
The normal high is 60°F and the normal low is 42°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 21°F (April 7, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Chicago in April?
About 12 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.2 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (8.0 in); the driest was in 2005 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in Chicago in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 1.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is April a good time to visit Chicago?
April ranks 4th of 12 months on our comfort score for Chicago (60 out of 100). It has about 9 comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Chicago Midway Airport 3SW (USC00111577), 10 mi SW of the city center, 620 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Chicago Midway Airport (USW00014819), 6.9 mi SW of the city center, 612 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Chicago Midway Intl Arpt (725340-14819), 7.1 mi SW of the city center, 610 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).