Chicago vs Milwaukee: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 108 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Chicago is the sunnier overall: about 2,095 hours of sunshine a year to Milwaukee's 1,950. Chicago has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months; the other 8 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Chicago | Milwaukee | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,095 | 1,950 |
| Sunniest month | September (75/100) | September (74/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 0/100 | 0/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 72/100 | 71/100 |
| Rain / year | 984 mm | 948 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 7 (high) | 7 (high) |
Chicago vs Milwaukee month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Milwaukee | Chicago | Milwaukee | Chicago | Milwaukee | |
| January | 0 | 0 | -1° | -2° | 44 | 40 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 1° | -1° | 51 | 43 |
| March | 0 | 0 | 7° | 6° | 63 | 59 |
| April | 43 | 30 | 15° | 13° | 95 | 96 |
| May | 69 | 64 | 21° | 19° | 120 | 109 |
| June | 70 | 67 | 26° | 25° | 112 | 125 |
| July | 73 | 73 | 29° | 28° | 100 | 95 |
| August | 72 | 72 | 28° | 27° | 106 | 100 |
| September | 75 | 74 | 24° | 23° | 87 | 90 |
| October | 50 | 44 | 16° | 15° | 91 | 82 |
| November | 0 | 0 | 8° | 8° | 58 | 55 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 1° | 0° | 57 | 54 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Chicago · May Chicago · Jun Chicago · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct Chicago · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Chicago averages 0/100, Milwaukee 0/100. Daytime highs are similar (2°C vs 1°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Chicago (average score 37/100 vs 31). Daytime highs are similar (14°C vs 13°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Chicago averages 72/100, Milwaukee 71/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: Chicago (average score 63/100 vs 59). Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 19°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Chicago weather by month · Milwaukee weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Chicago vs Madison · Chicago vs South Bend · Chicago vs Peoria · Milwaukee vs Madison · Milwaukee vs Green Bay · Milwaukee vs Appleton · all head-to-heads