Will it rain in
Chicago today?
Live hourly rain forecast and run verdict for Chicago, Illinois, US.
Running in Chicago means battling the Windy City's brutal lake-effect weather. Whether it's an Arctic wind chill off Lake Michigan, a summer thunderstorm rolling across the lakefront trail, or a freezing winter run through Lincoln Park, knowing whether to head out before you lace up matters. RainOrRun checks live conditions in Chicago right now and gives you an instant verdict — plus the best hourly window if the weather's on the fence. We'll also recommend the right gear for whatever Chicago's fierce lakefront weather is throwing at you today.
What to wear
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How often does it rain in Chicago?
Chicago records around 1166mm of rain a year, spread across about 133 days — roughly 36% of all days, or 11 days in an average month. In practice that makes rain a regular feature of running in Chicago rather than an exception — close to one day in two. A decent waterproof and a peaked cap earn their place in the kit bag year-round.
The wettest month is July, averaging 153mm across about 12 rainy days. The driest is February, with 60mm over roughly 9 days. Average lows in January drop to -6.6°C, cold enough that gloves, a headband and a thermal base layer make a real difference on early runs. Summer highs peak around 26.6°C in July, comfortable for most daytime running.
Those are ten-year averages, not a forecast. What actually matters on the day is the next twelve hours — which is what the live verdict and hourly strip at the top of this page are for.
| Month | Rainfall | Rainy days | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65mm | 10 | 0°C | -6.6°C |
| February | 60mm | 9 | 2°C | -6.5°C |
| March | 88mm | 12 | 7°C | -0.7°C |
| April | 101mm | 14 | 12.3°C | 4°C |
| May | 133mm | 13 | 18.6°C | 10.1°C |
| June | 111mm | 12 | 24.8°C | 16.2°C |
| July | 153mm | 12 | 26.6°C | 19.2°C |
| August | 107mm | 12 | 26.4°C | 19°C |
| September | 96mm | 10 | 23.7°C | 16.3°C |
| October | 123mm | 12 | 16.5°C | 9.2°C |
| November | 63mm | 8 | 9°C | 2.1°C |
| December | 66mm | 9 | 3.9°C | -2.6°C |
Historical data: Open-Meteo archive, 2015–2024. A “rainy day” means at least 1mm of precipitation.
Running in Chicago: common questions
Will it rain in Chicago today?
The forecast card at the top of this page shows Chicago's rain probability for the current hour, plus an hour-by-hour breakdown for the rest of the day, using live Open-Meteo data. Historically, Chicago sees rain on about 133 days a year, so on any given day there is roughly a 36% chance of some rain falling.
Is it a good day to run in Chicago?
RainOrRun scores the live Chicago forecast on rain probability, rainfall amount, temperature, wind speed and severe weather, then returns a single verdict: Go, Maybe, or Don't Bother. A Maybe means conditions are borderline and it is worth picking your window rather than skipping the run.
What is the best time to run in Chicago today?
The hourly strip above highlights the best single window of the day for Chicago — the hour combining the lowest rain probability with the most comfortable temperature. You can also check up to eight days ahead using the date picker if you are planning a long run or a race.
What should I wear running in Chicago today?
The gear section on this page updates with the live Chicago forecast: a waterproof jacket and peaked cap when rain probability goes above 40%, a thermal base layer and gloves below 8 degrees Celsius, and a high-vis vest when wind or low light make you harder to see.
What is the wettest month in Chicago?
July is the wettest month in Chicago, averaging 153mm of rain across about 12 rainy days. February is the driest, with around 60mm over roughly 9 days. Figures are ten-year averages covering 2015 to 2024.
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