Weather
Chicago, IL Weather: October Sets Record With No High Below 57°
Chicago, IL – October 2026 has entered the weather record books across northern Illinois, with Chicago experiencing its first October on record without a single daytime high temperature below 57 degre
By Nolan Pierce · 2026-11-01T21:20:20.883Z
Chicago, IL – October 2026 has entered the weather record books across northern Illinois, with Chicago experiencing its first October on record without a single daytime high temperature below 57 degrees, according to newly released climate statistics.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, the month ranked among the 10 warmest Octobers on record for both Chicago and Rockford, with persistent warmth and below normal precipitation dominating much of the region.
Chicago Breaks Longstanding October Temperature Benchmark Chicago's average October temperature reached 60.8 degrees, finishing 6.8 degrees above normal and tying for the sixth warmest October on record.
The city's coldest daily high temperature was 57 degrees, establishing a new record for the warmest minimum daily high during October.
That means every single day throughout the month reached at least 57 degrees.
Chicago also recorded temperatures of 60 degrees or higher on 28 of October's 31 days, tying the monthly record previously reached in 1963 and 1971.
Rockford Also Experiences Historic Warmth Rockford finished October with an average temperature of 57.7 degrees, approximately 5.7 degrees above normal, ranking as its ninth warmest October.
Its coldest daily high was 56 degrees, the second warmest such reading on record, behind 58 degrees in October 1956.
Rockford also reached 60 degrees on 28 days, one short of its October record of 29 days.
Rainfall Falls Short Across Northern Illinois Despite the unusual warmth, October was also relatively dry.
Chicago recorded 2.61 inches of precipitation, 0.82 inches below normal, while Rockford received 1.94 inches, 0.69 inches below normal.
Much of the month's rainfall occurred during just two or three days, according to the NWS.
The statistics highlight an unusually persistent stretch of autumn warmth across northern Illinois, rather than just a handful of isolated hot afternoons.