2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Buffalo, NY vs Chicago, IL

Highlights

On average, there are 189 sunny days per year in Chicago. Buffalo averages 155 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Chicago, Illinois gets 38.2 inches of rain, on average, per year. Buffalo, New York gets 38.5 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Chicago averages 35.1 inches of snow per year. Buffalo averages 84.8 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Chicago, Illinois
Summer High: the July high is around 83.9 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 19.2
Rain: averages 38.2 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 35.1 inches of snow a year

Buffalo, New York
Summer High: the July high is around 80.8 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 17.3
Rain: averages 38.5 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 84.8 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Chicago is 7.0 (10=best), which means it is about average compared to other places in Illinois.

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Buffalo is 6.4 (10=best), which means it is less comfortable than most places in New York.

Today's Weather - Buffalo, NY

61°F

Today's Weather - Chicago, IL

51°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Buffalo / Chicago

July is the hottest month for Buffalo with an average high temperature of 80.8°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in New York. In Buffalo, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Buffalo are August, June and July.

July is the hottest month for Chicago with an average high temperature of 83.9°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in Illinois. In Chicago, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Chicago are June, September and August.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Buffalo with an average of 17.3°. This is about average compared to other places in New York.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Chicago with an average of 19.2°. This is warmer than most places in Illinois.

In Buffalo, there are 3.0 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in New York.

In Chicago, there are 13.6 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in Illinois.

In Buffalo, there are 130.8 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is about average compared to other places in New York.

In Chicago, there are 103.9 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is warmer than most places in Illinois.

In Buffalo, there are 3.3 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is warmer than most places in New York.

In Chicago, there are 4.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is warmer than most places in Illinois.

November is the wettest month in Buffalo with 3.8 inches of rain, and the driest month is February with 2.3 inches. The wettest season is Winter with 29% of yearly precipitation and 22% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 38.5 inches in Buffalo means that it is drier than most places in New York.


August is the wettest month in Chicago with 4.2 inches of rain, and the driest month is January with 2.0 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 31% of yearly precipitation and 17% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 38.2 inches in Chicago means that it is drier than most places in Illinois.

January is the rainiest month in Buffalo with 18.9 days of rain, and August is the driest month with only 10.2 rainy days. There are 163.9 rainy days annually in Buffalo, which is rainier than most places in New York. The rainiest season is Spring when it rains 32% of the time and the driest is Autumn with only a 20% chance of a rainy day.

May is the rainiest month in Chicago with 11.5 days of rain, and February is the driest month with only 8.4 rainy days. There are 124.8 rainy days annually in Chicago, which is one of the rainiest places in Illinois. The rainiest season is Summer when it rains 27% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 24% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 84.8 inches in Buffalo means that it is snowier than most places in New York.

An annual snowfall of 35.1 inches in Chicago means that it is one of the snowiest places in Illinois.

January is the snowiest month in Buffalo with 23.8 inches of snow, and 7 months of the year have significant snowfall.

January is the snowiest month in Chicago with 11.0 inches of snow, and 6 months of the year have significant snowfall.