February is one of the cooler months of the year in Chicago, with average highs near 0.6°C and lows around -4.6°C (mean -2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 48 mm of rainfall and 85% relative humidity across the period.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Chicago. Across 45 years of records, the warmest February in Chicago was 1998 — when the month averaged 2.6°C — while the coldest were 2014 and 2015 at -8.5°C. Typical February days reach 0.6°C with nights near -4.6°C. The long-term February temperature trend is broadly flat.
February is one of the drier months in Chicago, averaging 48 mm of rainfall. The wettest February on record was 2018 with 181 mm, while the driest was 2003 at 6 mm.
Relative humidity in Chicago during February averages 85%. The most humid February was 1985 at 92%, and the least humid was 2006 at 78%.
February receives about 2.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Chicago. The sunniest February was 2024 at 3.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1992 and 1999 at 2.
Average wind speed in Chicago during February is 5.3 m/s. The windiest February was 2002 at 6.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1998 at 4.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.6°C | -1.3°C | -1.7°C | -2.8°C | -1.4°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg High | 0.0°C | 1.1°C | 0.9°C | -0.1°C | 1.3°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Low | -5.2°C | -3.7°C | -4.4°C | -5.5°C | -4.2°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 42 mm | 47 mm | 46 mm | 63 mm | 37 mm | -5 mm |
February temperatures in Chicago have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
February has ranged from a record low of -20.6°C (1996) to a record high of 14.9°C (1999).
Rainfall in February is one of the drier months, averaging 48 mm, with a wettest year of 181 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.1°C per decade while lows fell 0.1°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Chicago
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Chicago. That said, February — with days averaging 0.6°C and nights around -4.6°C (mean -2°C) and moderate rainfall (48 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.4°C | -2.3°C | -5.1°C | 9.3°C | -14.4°C | 18 mm | 80% | 5.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2024 | 5.4°C | 2.5°C | -0.4°C | 13.9°C | -8.0°C | 18 mm | 81% | 4.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2023 | 3.4°C | 0.3°C | -2.8°C | 9.0°C | -12.4°C | 76 mm | 80% | 5.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2022 | 0.2°C | -2.8°C | -5.9°C | 7.4°C | -11.7°C | 65 mm | 83% | 5.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2021 | -2.6°C | -4.9°C | -7.2°C | 8.1°C | -16.4°C | 24 mm | 88% | 5.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2020 | 0.9°C | -1.5°C | -3.9°C | 6.9°C | -13.1°C | 21 mm | 83% | 5.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2019 | -0.5°C | -3.3°C | -6.1°C | 7.5°C | -13.6°C | 66 mm | 87% | 5.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 🌧️ | 0.6°C | -2.6°C | -5.8°C | 9.7°C | -15.2°C | 181 mm | 85% | 4.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2017 | 5.2°C | 1.8°C | -1.5°C | 13.9°C | -10.3°C | 51 mm | 83% | 4.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2016 | 1.5°C | -0.9°C | -3.4°C | 11.8°C | -13.1°C | 34 mm | 83% | 5.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2015 | -5.2°C | -8.5°C | -11.8°C | 3.5°C | -19.4°C | 28 mm | 84% | 5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2014 ❄️ | -4.8°C | -8.5°C | -12.1°C | 8.4°C | -18.8°C | 49 mm | 87% | 4.6 m/s | 3 |
| 2013 | 0.0°C | -2.3°C | -4.6°C | 7.1°C | -12.5°C | 65 mm | 83% | 5.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 2.8°C | 0.6°C | -1.6°C | 10.1°C | -8.0°C | 37 mm | 83% | 5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2011 | -0.2°C | -2.8°C | -5.4°C | 10.8°C | -16.5°C | 80 mm | 89% | 5.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2010 | 0.1°C | -1.4°C | -3.0°C | 3.0°C | -6.8°C | 35 mm | 84% | 4.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 1.3°C | -1.5°C | -4.4°C | 10.2°C | -13.6°C | 80 mm | 86% | 5.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2008 | -1.6°C | -4.5°C | -7.3°C | 7.4°C | -19.4°C | 86 mm | 88% | 5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2007 | -3.7°C | -6.4°C | -9.0°C | 5.5°C | -17.9°C | 43 mm | 90% | 5.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 1.4°C | -1.2°C | -3.8°C | 8.0°C | -16.2°C | 29 mm | 78% | 5.6 m/s | 3 |
| 2005 | 2.6°C | 0.6°C | -1.3°C | 8.5°C | -7.6°C | 49 mm | 84% | 4.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2004 | 1.6°C | -0.9°C | -3.3°C | 9.8°C | -9.1°C | 16 mm | 86% | 5.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2003 | -0.5°C | -3.4°C | -6.3°C | 6.6°C | -13.2°C | 6 mm | 79% | 5.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 3.2°C | 0.5°C | -2.2°C | 10.0°C | -8.9°C | 32 mm | 83% | 6.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 1.2°C | -1.8°C | -4.9°C | 9.3°C | -12.8°C | 77 mm | 83% | 5.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2000 | 3.9°C | 1.4°C | -1.1°C | 13.5°C | -6.0°C | 42 mm | 83% | 5.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1999 | 3.5°C | 1.0°C | -1.4°C | 14.9°C | -6.4°C | 42 mm | 80% | 5.4 m/s | 2 |
| 1998 🔥 | 4.5°C | 2.6°C | 0.7°C | 11.5°C | -1.7°C | 44 mm | 86% | 4.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1997 | 0.9°C | -1.2°C | -3.3°C | 6.4°C | -7.3°C | 121 mm | 84% | 4.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | -0.3°C | -2.9°C | -5.5°C | 8.6°C | -20.6°C | 27 mm | 85% | 5.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1995 | -0.6°C | -3.0°C | -5.4°C | 5.8°C | -15.2°C | 15 mm | 83% | 5.7 m/s | 3 |
| 1994 | -2.4°C | -5.3°C | -8.2°C | 11.3°C | -18.2°C | 62 mm | 91% | 5.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1993 | -0.6°C | -2.8°C | -5.1°C | 4.1°C | -14.1°C | 33 mm | 86% | 5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1992 | 2.2°C | 0.1°C | -2.0°C | 5.5°C | -9.4°C | 31 mm | 86% | 4.7 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 | 2.1°C | -0.5°C | -3.1°C | 8.5°C | -11.0°C | 20 mm | 85% | 5.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1990 | 1.8°C | -0.8°C | -3.3°C | 8.3°C | -12.2°C | 74 mm | 82% | 5.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1989 | -1.9°C | -4.3°C | -6.6°C | 4.8°C | -14.6°C | 36 mm | 83% | 5.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1988 | -1.1°C | -4.1°C | -7.1°C | 7.3°C | -16.3°C | 38 mm | 85% | 6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1987 | 2.9°C | 0.5°C | -1.9°C | 5.9°C | -6.5°C | 22 mm | 82% | 5.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1986 | -1.6°C | -3.7°C | -5.7°C | 3.3°C | -15.1°C | 67 mm | 90% | 4.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1985 | -2.6°C | -5.6°C | -8.6°C | 6.6°C | -20.1°C | 73 mm | 92% | 5.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1984 | 2.9°C | 0.5°C | -2.0°C | 11.2°C | -13.2°C | 38 mm | 88% | 5.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1983 | 2.5°C | 0.0°C | -2.5°C | 11.0°C | -9.9°C | 41 mm | 87% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -2.1°C | -4.5°C | -7.0°C | 4.3°C | -20.3°C | 17 mm | 88% | 4.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 0.7°C | -2.2°C | -5.2°C | 10.8°C | -16.8°C | 50 mm | 89% | 6.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded February data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in February is around 0.6°C with lows near -4.6°C (mean -2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
February averages 48 mm of rainfall in Chicago, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 181 mm in 2018.
The hottest February reached 14.9°C in 1999. The coldest dipped to -20.6°C in 1996.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average February temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 0.3°C to 1.4°C and overnight lows from -5.1°C to -4.3°C over the same span.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Chicago and one of the drier months, so plan for around 0.6°C daytime highs and -4.6°C at night.
Not quite — February is the 2nd coolest month in Chicago, averaging -2°C.
For February in Chicago, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 0.6°C and lows of -4.6°C.
Relative humidity in February averages 85% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in February is 5.3 m/s. The windiest February on record averaged 6.3 m/s (2002).
The wettest February on record was 2018 with 181 mm. On average, February sees 48 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Chicago behaves each February, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for February specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
