Chicago Ridge, IL climate
Chicago Ridge has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 39 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Chicago Ridge feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Chicago Ridge weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 17° | 2.1" | 12.5" | 12 | 18 | 16° – 36° |
| February | 36° | 20° | 1.9" | 10.1" | 9 | 12 | 16° – 39° |
| March | 48° | 29° | 2.4" | 5.7" | 11 | 4 | 31° – 53° |
| April | 60° | 39° | 3.9" | 1.0" | 12 | 1 | 41° – 55° |
| May | 71° | 50° | 4.5" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 54° – 67° |
| June | 81° | 59° | 4.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| July | 84° | 64° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 70° – 80° |
| August | 82° | 63° | 4.1" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 68° – 79° |
| September | 76° | 55° | 3.3" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 60° – 70° |
| October | 64° | 43° | 3.5" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| November | 49° | 33° | 2.6" | 1.5" | 10 | 1 | 33° – 49° |
| December | 37° | 23° | 2.1" | 7.9" | 11 | 9 | 17° – 40° |
| Year | 60° | 41° | 38.6" | 38.8" | 127 | 44 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Chicago Ridge
Chicago Ridge gets 39 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 127 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 44 days of the year.
About 203 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 10 and the first one by November 1. That leaves about 203 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 74% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Chicago Ridge
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Chicago Ridge, 83% of that work is heating and 17% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Chicago Ridge and its neighbors
Chicago Ridge borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.4°. Palos has the coldest January nights (17°) and Bridgeview the hottest July afternoons (84°). Chicago Ridge’s January low is 17° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Chicago Ridge compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Chicago Ridge averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.5°). The shift is larger than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Chicago Ridge’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 17° to 40°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Chicago Ridge’s climate
What is the coldest month in Chicago Ridge?
January, with a typical high of 32° and a low of 17°.
What is the hottest month in Chicago Ridge?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 64°. About 21 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Chicago Ridge get?
About 39 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Chicago Ridge?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 1, and the last spring frost by April 10.
What is the rainiest month in Chicago Ridge?
May, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 39 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Chicago Ridge itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Chicago Midway Airport 3sw, IL (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.