Chicago, IL weather in February
In February, Chicago sees highs around 37°F and lows around 23°F: cold and snowy. Expect about 9 wet days. Snowfall averages about 10.1 in. It is one of the coldest months in Chicago. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 37°F
- Normal low
- 23°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.1 in
- snow on the ground 12 days
How February changes from start to finish
| February 1 | February 28 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 33°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 27°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:02 am / 5:05 pm | 6:26 am / 5:39 pm |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 11.2 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 February day
- 6 am26°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am28°Fdew point 20°F
- Noon32°Fdew point 20°F
- 3 pm34°Fdew point 21°F
- 6 pm31°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 21°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°F0 of 28
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 28
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 28
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 28
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow9 of 28
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 28
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below23 of 28
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more12 of 28
Average days per February, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in February
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry February brings about 1.2 in and a wet one about 2.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.1 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How February varies from year to year
- Warmest February, 1991-20202017: average high 49°F
- Coolest February2007: average high 25°F
- Wettest February1997: 6.8 in
- Driest February2003: 0.3 in
- Highest reading73°F (February 25, 2000)
- Lowest reading-17°F (February 3, 1996)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
February compared with January and March
| January | February | March | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 33°F | 37°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 23°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 9 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 10.6 h | 12.0 h |
Highs change by +4°F from January and +11°F into March.
Nearby alternatives in February
- Cooler: Madison, WI123 mi · high 31°F · 10 wet days
How Chicago ranks in February
- Normal high310th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days230th driest of 378
- Comfortable days246th most of 340
What to pack for Chicago in February
- A warm jacket – lows near 23°F, highs near 37°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 9 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 12 days
- A hat and gloves – about 23 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
February has 984 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Chicago in February?
The normal high is 37°F and the normal low is 23°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest February reading was -17°F (February 3, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Chicago in February?
About 9 days in February have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest February in 1991-2020 was in 1997 (6.8 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Chicago in February?
Yes. Normal snowfall in February is 10.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 12 days.
Is February a good time to visit Chicago?
February ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Chicago (32 out of 100). It has almost no 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).