Chicago Weather in February

Although a little warmer and sunnier than the previous month, Chicago, Illinois can still get some cold snaps in February.

This page gives detailed information on the typical February temperature, precipitation, sun, humidity, wind and storms for Chicago. The numbers here are historical averages based on temperature, rain and snow measurements gathered at Chicago Midway Airport and other climate data from Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Temperature

37 °F	February average high	3 °C
23 °F	February average low	-5 °C

10 days	40 °F max. or more (4 °C)
11 days	20 °F min. or less (-8 °C)

Chicago averages 4 days this month when the thermometer reaches into the 50s degrees Fahrenheit (over 10 degrees Celsius). Temperatures above 70 °F (21 °C) in February occur about once a decade. Typically 10 days remain below freezing for the entire day.

The thermometer ends up at freezing or below most nights in February. An average of one night this month gets as cold as 0 °F (-18 °C).

Precipitation

2.1 in	total precipitation	54 mm
9 days	of rain or snowfall

Half the time, Chicago receives 1.2 to 2.7 inches (30 to 68 mm) of precipitation in February. One in four years has drier weather, while another one in four is wetter.

Snow

10.7 in	total snowfall	27 cm
6 days	with new snow

February's snowfall varies a lot from year to year in Chicago. Between 2.6 and 20 inches (7 to 51 cm) of fresh snow arrives in half the years. Less new snow lands in one out of four Februaries, while another twenty-five percent are snowier.

Chicago typically has at least an inch (2.5 cm) of snow on the ground for 12 days this month. The snow normally accumulates to 5 inches (13 cm) or deeper on 6 days.

Sun

49 %	sunshine
6 days	clear skies

The sun's rays reach the ground in Chicago during 49 percent of daylight hours on average in February, for a total of 146 hours in the month. Typically on 6 days this month the sky is mainly clear, with at most 30 percent cloud cover.

Sunlight in February at Chicago lasts for 10 hours and 37 minutes a day on average. The shortest day of the month is the 1st with 10 hours and 3 minutes of daylight. By the end of the month, the days have lengthened to 11:13 from sunrise to sunset. These durations can vary by a minute or two from year to year.

Humidity

72 %	February average humidity

The relative humidity in Chicago during February usually peaks at 77 percent in the morning then drops to 63 percent by mid afternoon.

Local Time	12 am	3 am	6 am	9 am	12 pm	3 pm	6 pm	9 pm
Humidity %	76	77	77	73	65	63	69	74

Wind

11.3 mph

February wind speed average

18.2 kph

February is windier than most other months in Chicago.

Storms

3 days	snowfall of 1 inch (2.5 cm) or more
0 days	with thunderstorms in February

Chicago can get over 5 inches (13 cm) of snow in one day during February, but snowstorms that severe only occur in some years.

Every few years a thunderstorm passes over Chicago in February.