Chicago IL Most Precipitation in a Day for Each Year

This page lists the biggest rainstorms or snowstorms of the year in Chicago, Illinois along with the date they occurred. The information answers questions like: When was the last time more than five inches of rain landed on Chicago in a single day? What was the wettest day of 2019?

The list gives the highest daily precipitation for each year in Chicago and the date that it happened. A date with a plus sign beside it means the same amount of moisture also fell on at least one other day earlier that year.

These records were observed at Chicago's Midway Airport and go back to 1942. During that time the heaviest downpour measured for a single day was 6.16 inches (156.5 millimetres) on July 12, 1957.

Most precipitation in one day for recent years in Chicago
Inches	Date	Millimetres
4.01	July 02, 2023	101.9
1.85	July 23, 2022	47.0
2.69	October 24, 2021	68.3
3.95	May 17, 2020	100.3
3.45	October 26, 2019	87.6
2.37	June 21, 2018	60.2
5.11	October 14, 2017	129.8
2.00	August 12, 2016	50.8
3.87	September 18, 2015	98.3
4.53	August 22, 2014	115.1
2.73	April 17, 2013	69.3
3.08	August 26, 2012	78.2
2.58	June 09, 2011	65.5
4.77	July 24, 2010	121.2

Highest daily precipitation recorded at Chicago each year
Inches	Date	Millimetres
2.02	March 08, 2009	51.3
3.62	September 13, 2008	91.9
2.49	August 23, 2007	63.2
3.80	October 02, 2006	96.5
0.96	January 13, 2005	24.4
1.60	May 30, 2004	40.6
2.23	November 18, 2003	56.6
2.61	May 11, 2002	66.3
3.58	August 02, 2001	90.9
4.16	September 11, 2000	105.7
1.88	June 01, 1999	47.8
3.51	September 07, 1998	89.2
3.25	February 21, 1997	82.6
5.72	July 17, 1996	145.3
3.49	November 10, 1995	88.6
2.63	October 31, 1994	66.8
3.11	June 07, 1993	79.0
3.25	September 09, 1992	82.6
2.65	May 25, 1991	67.3
3.69	July 19, 1990	93.7
2.08	September 01, 1989	52.8
1.68	November 09, 1988 +	42.7
3.90	August 26, 1987	99.1
2.72	September 26, 1986	69.1
3.18	October 18, 1985	80.8
2.13	August 09, 1984	54.1
2.88	June 27, 1983	73.2
2.78	December 02, 1982	70.6
2.77	June 13, 1981	70.4
–	1980	–
2.60	August 17, 1979	66.0
3.03	July 20, 1978	77.0
2.92	September 01, 1977	74.2
4.64	June 13, 1976	117.9
3.83	April 18, 1975	97.3
2.03	July 02, 1974	51.6
1.65	April 30, 1973	41.9
3.65	September 28, 1972	92.7
2.18	December 10, 1971	55.4
2.43	October 13, 1970	61.7
3.04	July 17, 1969	77.2
3.79	August 16, 1968	96.3
2.94	June 10, 1967	74.7
4.71	July 27, 1966	119.6
2.61	December 24, 1965	66.3
1.70	July 18, 1964	43.2
2.19	July 16, 1963	55.6
1.82	July 22, 1962	46.2
2.55	August 01, 1961	64.8
2.76	January 12, 1960	70.1
4.58	June 25, 1959	116.3
2.07	June 08, 1958	52.6
6.16	July 12, 1957	156.5
1.57	August 29, 1956	39.9
2.03	August 06, 1955	51.6
3.95	October 03, 1954	100.3
2.42	June 10, 1953	61.5
1.60	August 09, 1952	40.6
2.84	May 10, 1951	72.1
2.48	July 16, 1950	63.0
2.58	June 14, 1949	65.5
2.50	March 19, 1948	63.5
2.58	April 05, 1947	65.5
2.43	July 09, 1946	61.7
1.95	May 14, 1945	49.5
1.62	March 14, 1944	41.1
3.93	July 06, 1943	99.8
1.96	February 06, 1942	49.8

Chicago - Extreme Daily Precipitation for Each Year

Reference

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