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

Looking to travel to Chicago in May? Check out this comprehensive weather guide.

In May, Chicago typically experiences pleasant temperatures and high rainfall. Anticipate daytime temperatures around 21°C, while night temperatures can drop to 11°C.

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.

The days are predominantly sunny, with an estimated total of around 282 hours of sunshine. This amount of sunlight does not only brightens the days but also contributes to a cheerful ambiance in the area during this month.

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 TemperatureMin Temperature 11°C  
Max TemperatureMax Temperature 21°C  
Chance of RainChance of Rain 41%  
PrecipitationPrecipitation 118 mm  
Rainy daysRainy days 12 days  
HumidityHumidity 64%  
WindspeedWindspeed 18 km/h  
SunshineSunshine 282 hours  
Percentage SunshinePercentage 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 in May and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.

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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 Chicago in May?

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 in May.

Cycling
9/10
Walking
9/10
Camping
6/10
Outdoor sports
9/10

Interested in more climate information?

Weather and Climate 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 climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.