Chicago vs South Bend: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 135 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Chicago and South Bend are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,095 vs 2,045 hours a year. South Bend has the higher Sunshine Score in 3 of 12 months; the other 9 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 | South Bend | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,095 | 2,045 |
| Sunniest month | September (75/100) | September (76/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 0/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 72/100 | 72/100 |
| Rain / year | 984 mm | 994 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 7 (high) | 7 (high) |
Chicago vs South Bend month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | South Bend | Chicago | South Bend | Chicago | South Bend | |
| January | 0 | 0 | -1° | 0° | 44 | 62 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 1° | 1° | 51 | 58 |
| March | 0 | 0 | 7° | 8° | 63 | 63 |
| April | 43 | 43 | 15° | 15° | 95 | 89 |
| May | 69 | 70 | 21° | 21° | 120 | 112 |
| June | 70 | 73 | 26° | 26° | 112 | 98 |
| July | 73 | 72 | 29° | 28° | 100 | 100 |
| August | 72 | 71 | 28° | 28° | 106 | 107 |
| September | 75 | 76 | 24° | 24° | 87 | 80 |
| October | 50 | 55 | 16° | 17° | 91 | 95 |
| November | 0 | 6 | 8° | 9° | 58 | 69 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 1° | 2° | 57 | 61 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun South Bend · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct South Bend · Nov South Bend · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Chicago averages 0/100, South Bend 2/100. Daytime highs are similar (2°C vs 3°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Chicago averages 37/100, South Bend 38/100. Daytime highs are similar (14°C vs 15°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Chicago averages 72/100, South Bend 72/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: South Bend (average score 66/100 vs 63). Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 21°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Chicago weather by month · South Bend weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Chicago vs Milwaukee · Chicago vs Madison · Chicago vs Peoria · South Bend vs Fort Wayne · South Bend vs Kalamazoo · all head-to-heads