Chicago, IL weather in October
In October, Chicago sees highs around 64°F and lows around 47°F: cool, with frequent rain. There are about 11 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 64°F
- Normal low
- 47°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 70°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 53°F | 41°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:47 am / 6:32 pm | 7:21 am / 5:46 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.4 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 October day
- 6 am49°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 am54°Fdew point 43°F
- Noon60°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm61°Fdew point 42°F
- 6 pm57°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 pm54°Fdew point 43°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Chicago Midway Airport (7 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F11 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below1 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 3.9 in; a dry October brings about 2.1 in and a wet one about 5.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202007: average high 69°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 56°F
- Wettest October2017: 10.7 in
- Driest October1992: 0.7 in
- Highest reading89°F (October 4, 2005)
- Lowest reading26°F (October 31, 2019)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
October compared with September and November
| September | October | November | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 77°F | 64°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 59°F | 47°F | 35°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 11 | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.1 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -13°F from September and -14°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Drier: Carmel, IN152 mi · high 65°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI185 mi · high 58°F · 10 wet days
How Chicago ranks in October
- Normal high267th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days311th driest of 378
- Comfortable days183rd most of 340
What to pack for Chicago in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 31; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 20. All frost dates for Chicago.
Heating and cooling
October has 323 heating degree days and 21 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Chicago in October?
The normal high is 64°F and the normal low is 47°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 26°F (October 31, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Chicago in October?
About 11 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.9 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (10.7 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Chicago in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.1 in.
Is October a good time to visit Chicago?
October ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Chicago (59 out of 100). It has about 11 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).