South Elgin, IL climate
South Elgin has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in South Elgin feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
South Elgin 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 | 30° | 15° | 1.8" | 9.5" | 10 | 17 | 13° – 34° |
| February | 35° | 18° | 1.8" | 8.0" | 8 | 13 | 14° – 38° |
| March | 46° | 27° | 2.3" | 3.7" | 10 | 4 | 28° – 52° |
| April | 59° | 37° | 3.8" | 0.8" | 13 | 1 | 40° – 55° |
| May | 71° | 48° | 4.8" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 53° – 66° |
| June | 81° | 58° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 65° – 74° |
| July | 84° | 63° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 68° – 80° |
| August | 82° | 61° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 66° – 77° |
| September | 75° | 53° | 3.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 58° – 69° |
| October | 62° | 41° | 3.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| November | 47° | 31° | 2.5" | 1.4" | 10 | 1 | 31° – 47° |
| December | 35° | 20° | 2.0" | 8.7" | 10 | 9 | 15° – 38° |
| Year | 59° | 39° | 38.0" | 32.1" | 124 | 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 South Elgin
South Elgin gets 38 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 124 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 44 days of the year.
About 174 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 26 and the first one by October 18. That leaves about 174 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 56% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in South Elgin
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In South Elgin, 89% of that work is heating and 11% 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.
South Elgin and its neighbors
South Elgin borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.5°. Elgin has the coldest January nights (15°) and St. Charles the hottest July afternoons (84°). South Elgin’s January low is 15° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How South Elgin 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 South Elgin averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.4°). The shift is smaller than in 52% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at South Elgin’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 14° to 38°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about South Elgin’s climate
What is the coldest month in South Elgin?
January, with a typical high of 30° and a low of 15°.
What is the hottest month in South Elgin?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 63°. About 15 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does South Elgin get?
About 32 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in South Elgin?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 18, and the last spring frost by April 26.
What is the rainiest month in South Elgin?
May, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 38 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for South Elgin itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Elgin, IL (5 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.