Chicago weather in May (Illinois, United States of America)

What kind of temperatures can you expect in Chicago during May? See what weather conditions to anticipate this month with our guide.

Temperatures

The month of May in Chicago typically includes pleasant temperatures and high rainfall. The daytime often sees temperatures reaching 21°C, but nighttime brings a cool-down to 11°C.

Precipitation

Chicago in May usually receives high rainfall, averaging around 118 mm for the month. Based on our climate data of the past 30 years, about 12 days of rain are anticipated.

Average sunshine

Expect a lot of sunshine this month, with about 282 hours of sunny weather. The abundant sunlight creates a lively and bright atmosphere.

If your ideal day consists of dry skies and moderate temperatures September generally stands out with the best circumstances. While January, February, March, November and December tend to showcase less optimal conditions.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Chicago climate page with graphs.

 

Chicago, monthly averages in May

Min Temperature 11°C  

Max Temperature 21°C  

Chance of Rain 41%  

Precipitation 118 mm  

Rainy days 12 days  

Humidity 64%  

Windspeed 18 km/h  

Sunshine 282 hours  

Percentage Sunshine 62%  

Where to go in the United States of America in May

Find out more about the weather in the United States of America and which places have the best travel conditions in this month.

Weather conditions Weather

Temperatures

Precipitation

Map not visible? Whoops sorry! Please refresh the page.

Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in this month?

For visitors traveling to Chicago, we recommend wearing layers. So maybe a skirt, t-shirt, shorts for during the day and jeans and a warm jacket for some days and evenings. Bring a rain jacket in case it rains during your stay. Plan on layering your clothes.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do.

Cycling

9/10

Walking

9/10

Camping

6/10

Outdoor sports

9/10

Interested in more climate information?

This site provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Chicago.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.