Chicago (IL) Sunshine Hours by Month
The amount of sunshine is fundamental to comprehending a place's climate. This page shows the total number of hours of direct sunlight per month and the average hours per day in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. Long-term data from 1990 to 2020 was used to calculate these averages.
Monthly hours of sunshine
Sunshine in Chicago varies greatly throughout the year. The sunniest month, July, reaches an impressive 319 hours, while December, the darkest month, offers only 107 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 2509 hours.
Daily hours of sunshine
Seasonal changes in sunshine hours are quite obvious in Chicago. While July receives considerable daily sunshine with up to 10.6 hours, December marks the darkest time of the year, where sunshine is scarce with only 3.6 hours of sunlight per day.
Average percent of sunshine
On average the sun shines 69% of the time during the day in July, the highest percentage of any month. December has the lowest percentage at 37%.
Chicago vs Major Cities: Sunshine Compared
Chicago enjoys an average of 2509 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:
Athens, Greece, enjoys 2769 hours of sunshine each year, making it one of the sunniest destinations in the Mediterranean region.
In contrast, Brussels, Belgium, receives only about 1590 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.
Boston, USA, enjoys 2629 hours of sunshine annually, with distinct seasons and many bright, sunny days.
In Brisbane, Australia, the annual sunshine averages 2999 hours, making it one of Australia’s sunniest cities.
Related Climate Data for Chicago
June, Chicago’s wettest month, receives 115 mm (4.5 in) of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 26°C (79°F). During the driest month January you can expect a temperature of -1°C (30°F).
For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Chicago Precipitation page.
