December could be a good time to visit Chicago, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +3°C, and there are typically 3 sunny days in December. However, expect about 8 snowy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 42 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
December is usually the wettest month of the year in Chicago;
Average weather
☀️
+3°C
Avg. max. temperature
-27°C
Min.
+22°C
Max.
42 mm
Total precipitation
73%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
14 ⛅️
Cloudy
6 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Chicago has OK weather in December.
Average temperature in Chicago in December
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Chicago for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in December is +7°C with a maximum of +13°C and a minimum of -7°C.
The average maximum temperature goes down 25% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +8°C to +3°C.
Is Chicago warm or cold in December?
Chicago is typically cool in December.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +9°C to +3°C. The minimum temperature also goes down from +3°C to -3°C.
Pack a sweater and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
December is one of the coolest months in Chicago, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Chicago in December
Water in Chicago in December is Cold. It varies from +3°C to +8°C, with an average of +6°C.Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +3°C.
In December, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Chicago are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +23°C. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +3°C.
Can you swim in Chicago in December?
We would not recommend swimming in Chicago in December, the water is very cold (+6°C on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Chicago in December
Chicago weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
November
December
January
Avg. temperature
+9°C
+3°C
0°C
Min. temperature
-13°C
-27°C
-30°C
Max. temperature
+24°C
+22°C
+18°C
Rainfall
70 mm
42 mm
23 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+10°C
+6°C
+4°C
Humidity
69%
73%
73%
Air pressure
1017 HPa
1018 HPa
1018 HPa
Sunny days
4
3
3
Cloudy days
14
14
15
Rainy days
10
6
3
Snowy days
2
8
11
December weather is still as ok as in November.It’s getting colder in December. From +9°C in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +3°C.As December arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 70 mm to 42 mm.Humidity rises from 69% to 73%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during December, staying around 4 m/s.The days becoming less sunny, going from 4 sunny days in November to 3 in December.
January brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Chicago in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 9 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Chicago is gradually increasing during December, going from 3 m/s to 4 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during December in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in December is about 115 mm, with a 48% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 26 mm, which is moderate rain.December is a pretty wet month with over 15 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of galoshes.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Chicago wettest month is May, where a typical day has a 42% chance of precipitation and 101 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 7% chance of precipitation and 21 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during December in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in December is about 3 mm, with a 0% chance of snow on a typical day.
December is one of the snowiest months in Chicago.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last December in Chicago?
This is the weather in Chicago in December 2023:
1 December
🌫️
+8°C
2 December
☁️
+6°C
3 December
☁️
+5°C
4 December
☁️
+5°C
5 December
☁️
+5°C
6 December
☁️
+3°C
7 December
☀️
+12°C
8 December
☁️
+13°C
9 December
🌧️
+13°C
10 December
☁️
+6°C
11 December
☁️
+2°C
12 December
☀️
+4°C
13 December
☀️
+5°C
14 December
☀️
+11°C
15 December
☁️
+12°C
16 December
☁️
+10°C
17 December
☁️
+7°C
18 December
☁️
+4°C
19 December
☁️
0°C
20 December
☁️
+6°C
21 December
☁️
+8°C
22 December
🌧️
+8°C
23 December
🌫️
+9°C
24 December
🌫️
+13°C
25 December
☁️
+13°C
26 December
☁️
+12°C
27 December
☁️
+6°C
28 December
☁️
+6°C
29 December
🌫️
+6°C
30 December
☀️
+6°C
31 December
🌫️
+3°C
In December 2023 Chicago had 5 sunny days, 19 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +7°C, with an absolute maximum of +13°C and a minimum of 0°C. The average humidity was 79%, with a maximum of 99% and a minimum of 38%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 13 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?
Climate Change over Years
This is how Chicago climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in Chicago in December has not changed much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+12°C) and the highest in 2012 (+17°C). The driest year was 2005 with only 501 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1535 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Chicago in December:
Is December a good time to visit Chicago?
It’s always a good time to visit Chicago, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Chicago in December?
Not really, December is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Chicago in December?
Swimming in Chicago in December is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Chicago rainy in December?
Chicago is usually dry in December. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.
Is it sunny in Chicago in December?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Chicago in December, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Chicago, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.