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Chicago Weather
United States · Updated Monday, March 16, 2026 at 5:52 PM ET
28°F
Light Snow
Feels like 15°F · H 29°F / L 26°F
Humidity
72%
Wind
22 mph
NW
Visibility
6 mi
About Chicago Weather
Chicago earns its 'Windy City' nickname from Lake Michigan's powerful influence — the lake moderates summer heat along the lakefront while keeping the city 10–15°F cooler than inland suburbs. Winters bring brutal polar vortex events with wind chills below -40°F, while summers can swing from pleasant lake breezes to stifling humidity. The city experiences dramatic weather between seasons, with the lakefront and the inland West Side neighborhoods living in measurably different climates.