Weather on December 21
Chicago, IL
55 Years of Data
Avg High
35°F
Avg Low
23°F
Warmest
2015
47°F avg
Coldest
1989
-2°F avg
About This Date
December 21st in Chicago, IL typically brings cold winter weather, with average highs around 35°F and lows near 23°F. Over 55 years of records, the warmest December 21st was in 2015 (47°F average), while the coldest was 1989 (-2°F) — a 49°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 15% of recorded December 21st dates, with snow falling 9% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 2.5"). The last decade has been 8.5°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 8.5°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for December 21st in Chicago, IL? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
Warming Trend
1.6°F per decade on this date
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34° | 20° | 27° | — | — |
| 2024 | 27° | 21° | 24° | — | — |
| 2023 | 42° | 35° | 39° | — | — |
| 2022 | 33° | 18° | 25° | — | — |
| 2021 | 41° | 28° | 35° | — | — |
| 2020 | 46° | 34° | 40° | — | — |
| 2019 | 49° | 34° | 41° | — | — |
| 2018 | 39° | 30° | 35° | — | — |
| 2017 | 38° | 33° | 35° | — | — |
| 2016 | 38° | 22° | 30° | — | — |
| 2015warmest | 54° | 41° | 47° | — | — |
| 2014 | 37° | 32° | 35° | — | — |
| 2013 | 34° | 31° | 32° | — | — |
| 2012 | 35° | 22° | 28° | — | — |
| 2011 | 44° | 40° | 42° | — | — |
| 2010 | 34° | 29° | 31° | — | — |
| 2009 | 31° | 29° | 30° | — | — |
| 2008 | 23° | -3° | 10° | — | — |
| 2007 | 39° | 34° | 36° | — | — |
| 2006 | 44° | 38° | 41° | — | — |
| 2005 | 25° | 13° | 19° | — | — |
| 2004 | 34° | 15° | 24° | — | — |
| 2003 | 47° | 26° | 36° | — | — |
| 2002 | 35° | 29° | 32° | — | — |
| 2001 | 42° | 25° | 33° | — | — |
| 2000 | 20° | -4° | 8° | — | 1.7" |
| 1999 | 17° | 3° | 10° | — | — |
| 1998 | 35° | 12° | 24° | 0.03" | — |
| 1997 | 37° | 30° | 34° | — | — |
| 1996 | 37° | 16° | 26° | — | — |
| 1995 | 32° | 21° | 27° | — | — |
| 1994 | 51° | 31° | 41° | — | — |
| 1993 | 35° | 27° | 31° | — | — |
| 1992 | 31° | 17° | 24° | — | — |
| 1991 | 38° | 30° | 34° | 0.56" | 0.2" |
| 1990 | 48° | 43° | 45° | 0.58" | — |
| 1989coldest | 8° | -13° | -2° | 0.13" | 0.4" |
| 1988 | 58° | 31° | 44° | — | — |
| 1987 | 39° | 27° | 33° | — | — |
| 1986 | 38° | 34° | 36° | — | — |
| 1985 | 23° | 3° | 13° | — | — |
| 1984 | 44° | 29° | 36° | 1.02" | — |
| 1983 | 26° | 18° | 22° | 0.43" | 2.5" |
| 1982 | 32° | 22° | 27° | — | — |
| 1981 | 33° | 15° | 24° | 0.89" | 2" |
| 1980 | 23° | 8° | 16° | — | — |
| 1979 | 42° | 33° | 38° | — | — |
| 1978 | 35° | 16° | 25° | — | — |
| 1977 | 31° | 19° | 25° | 1.14" | — |
| 1976 | 23° | 5° | 14° | — | — |
| 1975 | 30° | 26° | 28° | — | — |
| 1974 | 33° | 23° | 28° | — | — |
| 1973 | 28° | 10° | 19° | — | — |
| 1972 | 37° | 33° | 35° | — | — |
| 1971 | 34° | 28° | 31° | — | — |
55 years of data from CHICAGO GRANT PARK