2021 Annual Climate Summary

Overview & Graphics

2021 Climate Summary

2021 in the Top Ten

Chicago (O'Hare) Daily Temperature Departures from Average in 2021

Rockford Daily Temperature Departures from Average in 2021

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Chicago IL
255 PM CST Sun Jan 2 2022 /355 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022/

...A Look Back at the Climate for the 2021 Calendar Year for Chicago
and Rockford...


Chicago Temperatures and Precipitation:

The average high temperature for Chicago in 2021 was 61.5 degrees,
which is 2.0 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 normal average high
temperature of 59.5 degrees. The average low temperature was 45.1
degrees, which is 2.1 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 normal average
low temperature of 43.0 degrees. The mean average temperature for
the year was 53.3 degrees, which is 2.1 degrees above the 1991 to
2020 normal mean average temperature of 51.2 degrees.

A total of 30.15 inches of precipitation was recorded during the
year, which is 7.71 inches below normal.

A total of 47.2 inches of snow was recorded during the year, which
is 8.8 inches above normal.


Below is a listing of monthly, seasonal, and annual temperature and
precipitation records that were established for Chicago in 2021...

JANUARY --
** 10th snowiest January on record since 1885 with 21.9 inches of
   snow.

FEBRUARY --
* Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 4 degrees on the 14th.
* Record daily snowfall of 6.1 inches on the 15th.
** 9th snowiest February on record since 1885 with 21.6 inches of
   snow.

MARCH --
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 69 degrees on the 9th.
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 57 degrees on the 10th.
** 10th warmest March on record since 1873 with a mean average
   temperature of 44.2 degrees.

APRIL --
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 87 degrees on the 27th.
** 6th driest April on record since 1871 with 0.71 inches of
   precipitation.

MAY -- No daily or monthly records set.

JUNE --
* Record daily precipitation of 1.50 inches on the 12th.
** Tied 4th warmest June on record since 1873 with a mean average
   temperature of 74.3 degrees.

JULY -- No daily or monthly records set.

AUGUST --
** 6th warmest August on record since 1873 with a mean average
   temperature of 77.1 degrees.

SEPTEMBER --
** Tied 5th warmest September on record since 1873 with a mean
   average temperature of 70.3 degrees.

OCTOBER --
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 70 degrees on the 10th.
* Record daily precipitation of 1.85 inches on the 24th.
** Tied 9th warmest October on record since 1873 with a mean
   temperature of 59.7 degrees.

NOVEMBER --
** 8th driest November on record since 1871 with 0.71 inches of
   precipitation.

DECEMBER --
* Record daily maximum temperature of 66 degrees on the 15th.
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 50 degrees on the 15th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 66 degrees on the 16th.
** 6th warmest December on record since 1873 with a mean average
   temperature of 38.0 degrees.

SEASONAL --
* 7th warmest spring on record since 1873 with a mean average
  temperature of 52.1 degrees.
* 3rd driest spring on record since 1871 with 3.75 inches of
  precipitation.
* Tied 8th warmest summer on record since 1873 with a mean average
  temperature of 75.3 degrees.
* Tied 8th warmest fall on record since 1873 with a mean average
  temperature of 56.8 degrees.

ANNUAL --
* Tied 5th warmest year on record since 1873 with a mean average
  temperature of 53.3 degrees.

...................................................................


Rockford Temperatures and Precipitation:

The average high temperature for Rockford in 2021 was 62.1 degrees,
which is 3.3 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 normal average high
temperature of 58.8 degrees. The average low temperature was 41.9
degrees, which is 1.9 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 normal average
low temperature of 40.0 degrees. The mean average temperature for
the year was 52.0 degrees, which is 2.6 degrees above the 1991 to
2020 normal mean average temperature of 49.4 degrees.

A total of 24.19 inches of precipitation was recorded during the
year, which is 13.05 inches below normal.

A total of 30.2 inches of snow was recorded during the year, which
is 6.9 inches below normal.


Below is a listing of monthly, seasonal, and annual temperature and
precipitation records that were established for Rockford in 2021...

JANUARY -- No daily or monthly records set.

FEBRUARY --
* Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 1 degree on the 14th.
** 6th coldest February on record since 1905 with a mean average
   temperature of 15.6 degrees.

MARCH --
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 68 degrees on the 9th.
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 51 degrees on the 10th.
* Record daily precipitation of 0.82 inches on the 23rd.
** 9th warmest March on record since 1905 with a mean average
   temperature of 42.8 degrees.

APRIL --
* Tied record daily snowfall of a trace on the 20th.

MAY --
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 88 degrees on the 1st.
* Tied record daily highest minimum temperature of 61 degrees on the
  2nd.
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 70 degrees on the 25th.

JUNE --
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 94 degrees on the 5th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 94 degrees on the 9th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 99 degrees on the 11th.
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 95 degrees on the 12th.
** 4th warmest June on record since 1905 with a mean average
   temperature of 75.5 degrees.
** 6th driest June on record since 1905 with 1.26 inches of
   precipitation.

JULY -- No daily or monthly records set.

AUGUST --
* Record daily precipitation of 2.52 inches on the 9th.

SEPTEMBER --
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 93 degrees on the 19th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 90 degrees on the 27th.
** 7th warmest September on record since 1905 with a mean average
   temperature of 68.9 degrees.
** 7th driest September on record since 1905 with 0.53 inches of
   precipitation.

OCTOBER --
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 67 degrees on the 2nd.
* Tied record daily highest minimum temperature of 67 degrees on
  the 10th.
** 6th warmest October on record since 1905 with a mean average
   temperature of 57.9 degrees.

NOVEMBER --
** Tied 2nd driest November on record since 1905 with 0.38 inches of
   precipitation.

DECEMBER --
* Record daily maximum temperature of 69 degrees on the 15th.
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 50 degrees on the 15th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 68 degrees on the 16th.
* Tied record daily maximum temperature of 55 degrees on the 24th.
** 4th warmest December on record since 1905 with a mean average
   temperature of 34.9 degrees.

SEASONAL --
* Tied 5th warmest spring on record since 1905 with a mean average
  temperature of 52.0 degrees.
* 7th driest spring on record since 1905 with 5.51 inches of
  precipitation.
* 5th warmest summer on record since 1905 with a mean average
  temperature of 75.1 degrees.
* 8th warmest fall on record since 1905 with a mean average
  temperature of 55.1 degrees.

ANNUAL --
* 4th warmest year on record since 1905 with a mean average
  temperature of 52.0 degrees.
* 5th driest year on record since 1905 with 24.19 inches of
  precipitation.

$$

Ogorek

Latest Annual Climate Report:   Chicago    |    Rockford
 

• January
• February & Meteorological Winter (December-February)
• March
• April
• May & Meteorological Winter (May-March)
• June
• July
• August & Meteorological Summer (June-August)
• September
• October
• November & Meteorological Autumn (September-November)
• December

Events

• December 15-16, 2021: Strong, damaging winds accompanied by record warmth

• December 10, 2021: Scattered severe winds and EF-0 tornado in Lake County, IN

• October 24-25, 2021: Widespread heavy rain and strong winds, as well as lakeshore flooding

• September 7, 2021: Swaths of large hail and wind damage across northern IL

• August 24, 2021: Thunderstorms produce wind damage and localized flooding in northern IL

• August 12, 2021: Significant flash flooding in and near Gibson City, IL

• August 10-11, 2021: Multiple rounds of severe storms produce widespread wind damage

• August 9, 2021: Numerous tornadoes and significant rainfall for parts of northern IL

• July 29, 2021: Overnight severe thunderstorms produce wind damage across the Chicago metro

• July 24, 2021: Gusty thunderstorms track across part of the area

• July 12, 2021: Significant flash flooding in and near Seneca, IL

• June 25-26, 2021: Severe storms produce four tornadoes and flash flooding

• June 20-21, 2021: Late night tornadoes & wind damage, including an EF-3 tornado in Naperville and Woodridge

• June 11-12, 2021: Localized severe thunderstorms produce hail and damaging winds

• Spring 2021: Top ten warm and dry spring, with one of the slowest starts to severe weather season

• March 10-11, 2021: Strong winds gust as high as 50 to 60 mph over the area

• 2020-2021 Winter: Near normal temps but above normal snow, including the snowiest three weeks since 1979

• February 14-16, 2021: Heavy snow brings a foot plus to all of Chicago; caps off record three weeks

• January 30-31, 2021: Widespread 6-12+" of snow, including largest snow event in Chicago in five years

​NWS Chicago Science and Past Events Page