Chicago - Lowest Temperature for Each Year
Here's where you'll find answers to your questions about the lowest temperatures and coldest days in Chicago, Illinois. For instance: When was the last time Chicago got colder than -20 °F? How cold did Chicago get in 2019?
This page gives the lowest temperature for each year in Chicago and the date that it happened. A date with a plus sign beside it means the lowest temperature also occurred on at least one other day earlier that year.
These records were observed at Chicago's Midway Airport and go back to 1942. The lowest temperature measured during that time was -25 degrees Fahrenheit (-32 Celsius) on January 20, 1985.
| Min °F | Date | Min °C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 03, 2023 | -17 |
| -9 | December 23, 2022 | -23 |
| -6 | February 07, 2021 | -21 |
| -1 | February 14, 2020 | -18 |
| -22 | January 30, 2019 | -30 |
| -10 | January 02, 2018 | -23 |
| -3 | December 27, 2017 | -19 |
| -6 | December 19, 2016 | -21 |
| -7 | January 08, 2015 | -22 |
| -15 | January 06, 2014 | -26 |
| -3 | December 12, 2013 | -19 |
| 6 | January 20, 2012 + | -14 |
| -6 | February 10, 2011 | -21 |
| 0 | January 10, 2010 | -18 |
| Min °F | Date | Min °C |
|---|---|---|
| -18 | January 16, 2009 | -28 |
| -5 | December 21, 2008 | -21 |
| -9 | February 05, 2007 | -23 |
| -6 | February 18, 2006 | -21 |
| 0 | December 19, 2005 + | -18 |
| -6 | January 30, 2004 | -21 |
| -3 | January 23, 2003 | -19 |
| -4 | March 04, 2002 | -20 |
| 0 | February 02, 2001 | -18 |
| -7 | December 22, 2000 | -22 |
| -15 | January 05, 1999 | -26 |
| 2 | December 30, 1998 + | -17 |
| -8 | January 17, 1997 | -22 |
| -17 | February 03, 1996 | -27 |
| -2 | December 09, 1995 | -19 |
| -20 | January 18, 1994 | -29 |
| -3 | February 24, 1993 | -19 |
| -7 | January 16, 1992 | -22 |
| -1 | January 22, 1991 | -18 |
| -5 | December 26, 1990 | -21 |
| -13 | December 21, 1989 | -25 |
| -12 | January 06, 1988 | -24 |
| -4 | January 24, 1987 | -20 |
| -4 | January 27, 1986 | -20 |
| -25 | January 20, 1985 | -32 |
| -17 | January 21, 1984 | -27 |
| -20 | December 24, 1983 | -29 |
| -22 | January 10, 1982 | -30 |
| -10 | February 12, 1981 | -23 |
| – | 1980 | – |
| -19 | January 15, 1979 | -28 |
| -8 | December 10, 1978 | -22 |
| -19 | January 16, 1977 | -28 |
| -11 | February 02, 1976 | -24 |
| -6 | February 09, 1975 | -21 |
| -9 | January 12, 1974 | -23 |
| -2 | December 22, 1973 | -19 |
| -15 | January 15, 1972 | -26 |
| -9 | February 02, 1971 | -23 |
| -12 | January 07, 1970 | -24 |
| -10 | January 01, 1969 | -23 |
| -11 | January 07, 1968 | -24 |
| -10 | December 31, 1967 + | -23 |
| -16 | January 29, 1966 | -27 |
| -9 | February 02, 1965 + | -23 |
| 2 | December 18, 1964 | -17 |
| -18 | January 23, 1963 | -28 |
| -12 | January 10, 1962 | -24 |
| -3 | December 28, 1961 | -19 |
| -14 | December 23, 1960 | -26 |
| -10 | January 05, 1959 | -23 |
| -8 | December 09, 1958 + | -22 |
| -7 | January 16, 1957 + | -22 |
| 2 | January 22, 1956 | -17 |
| -10 | January 27, 1955 | -23 |
| -7 | January 17, 1954 | -22 |
| 0 | December 18, 1953 + | -18 |
| -3 | January 29, 1952 + | -19 |
| -15 | February 02, 1951 + | -26 |
| -10 | December 27, 1950 | -23 |
| -4 | January 30, 1949 | -20 |
| -10 | January 17, 1948 | -23 |
| -2 | February 05, 1947 + | -19 |
| -3 | February 15, 1946 | -19 |
| -8 | January 09, 1945 | -22 |
| -7 | December 26, 1944 | -22 |
| -13 | January 20, 1943 | -25 |
| -14 | January 07, 1942 | -26 |
Reference
Jay Lawrimore. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.