East Chicago, IN climate
East Chicago has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 39 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in East Chicago feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
East Chicago 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 | 33° | 19° | 2.2" | 12.5" | 12 | 18 | 16° – 37° |
| February | 37° | 22° | 1.9" | 10.1" | 9 | 12 | 18° – 39° |
| March | 47° | 30° | 2.3" | 5.7" | 11 | 4 | 30° – 53° |
| April | 59° | 39° | 3.6" | 1.0" | 12 | 1 | 40° – 55° |
| May | 69° | 50° | 4.2" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 53° – 66° |
| June | 79° | 60° | 4.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 65° – 74° |
| July | 83° | 65° | 4.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 69° – 79° |
| August | 81° | 64° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 68° – 79° |
| September | 75° | 57° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 60° – 71° |
| October | 63° | 45° | 3.5" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 50° – 60° |
| November | 49° | 34° | 2.8" | 1.5" | 10 | 1 | 34° – 50° |
| December | 38° | 25° | 2.1" | 7.9" | 11 | 9 | 18° – 41° |
| Year | 59° | 42° | 38.3" | 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 East Chicago
East Chicago gets 38 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 East Chicago
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In East Chicago, 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.
East Chicago and its neighbors
East Chicago borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.4°. Calumet has the coldest January nights (18°) and North the hottest July afternoons (84°). East Chicago’s January low is 19° and its July high 83°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How East Chicago 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 East Chicago averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.5°). The shift is smaller than in 52% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at East Chicago’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 18° to 41°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about East Chicago’s climate
What is the coldest month in East Chicago?
January, with a typical high of 33° and a low of 19°.
What is the hottest month in East Chicago?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 65°. About 21 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does East Chicago get?
About 39 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in East Chicago?
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 East Chicago?
May, with 4.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 38 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for East Chicago itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Chicago Midway Airport 3sw, IL (18 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.