The City of
Chicago is
Illinois' most populated city and one of the top populated cities in the whole of the United States. A principal city of Chicago Metropolitan Area and the county seat of Cook County, Chicago is renowned for its stunning skyscape and bold, intricately designed architecture.
The city has a favorable location on Lake Michigan, a freshwater lake in Illinois, and it is one of the most visited cities in the United States. Its speedy growth and development in the past years have resulted in a very active financial, industrial, commercial, technological, and tourism hub at international levels.
Some of the stunning designs of Chicago's skyscrapers are featured in the 1,451-foot tall Willis Tower, the mighty iconic John Hancock Center, and the grand design of the Tribune Tower.
Numerous intricately designed museums in Chicago showcase the beautiful works of art and craft from renowned artists. A good example is the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works found in the Art Institute of Chicago. Enjoy touring great spots like the Filed Museum, the fun Millennium Park, and strolling along the beautiful waterfront pedestrian lanes across the city. Several restaurants serve local delicacies as well as international cuisines and fusions for visitors to dig in.
Chicago experiences a humid continental climate that is classified as Dfa in the Köppen climatic classification. The weather is characteristic of hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Spring and autumn are both short and feature mild weather, acting more as transitional seasons from the extremes.
Summers are hot and very humid, with periodic occurrences of heatwaves. Daytime temperature ranges are between 88.2°F (31.2°C) and 97°F (36.1°C), but occasional surges see the temperature go up as high as 102.2°F (39°C) to 107.6°F (42°C). At night, the temperature drops to between 52°F (11.1°C) and 67.3°F (19.6°C). The areas near the waterfronts are a lot cooler because of the waves and breezes from the ocean.
Summer receives the highest rainfall in the year, with
May as the wettest month when the rain gauge collects approximately 4.1" (104.1mm) in precipitation from an average of eleven and a half days of rain. Summer is highly prone to severe cases of thunderstorms, and visitors are advised accordingly.
During winter, Chicago is cold and snowy, with periodic occurrences of blizzards. There are a few hours of sunshine during the season, but it remains cold despite. The temperature averages between 31.5°F (-0.3°C) and 35.8°F (2.1°C) during the day, and drops to the range of 18.1°F (-7.7°C) and 22.6°F (-5.2°C) at night. On the coldest days, Chicago has experienced temperature dropping to as low as -4°F (-20°C)!
Snowfall is common during winter, with each winter month registering approximately 22.6cm of snow, and up to seven snowy days. The nights may feel a lot more bearable than recorded, thanks to the location of Chicago within the urban heat island region. Rainfall in winter is moderately low, with up to ten rainy days and an average of 2.2" (55.9mm) in precipitation. Spring is mild and pleasant, but is highly susceptible to thunderstorms, especially in the weeks nearing summer. Autumn is warm and has lovely weather amid moderately low humidity.
The peak of the travel period is between
June and
August when Chicago is at its warmest, and there are numerous events to be attended.