Waukegan weather by month
Average highs run from 31°F in January to 81°F in July, and January nights average 16°F. It gets 35 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 43 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 132 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to September.
Best time to visit Waukegan
For comfortable weather, go in May to September. In those months the average high stays between 62°F and 86°F, nights average 42°F or warmer, and rain stays under 4.5 inches for the month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow | Wet days | Days 90°F+ | Nights below 32°F | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 16°F | 1.4 in | 15.7 in | 4 | 0 | 28 | very cold |
| February | 34°F | 18°F | 1.5 in | 8.0 in | 3 | 0 | 26 | cold |
| March | 44°F | 27°F | 2.2 in | 5.8 in | 5 | 0 | 22 | cold |
| April | 56°F | 36°F | 3.8 in | 1.5 in | 7 | 0 | 9 | cool |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in | 8 | 0 | 1 | mild |
| June | 77°F | 56°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 2 | 0 | warm |
| July | 81°F | 62°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 4 | 0 | warm |
| August | 80°F | 61°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 3 | 0 | warm |
| September | 73°F | 54°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 1 | 0 | mild |
| October | 61°F | 43°F | 3.3 in | 0.1 in | 6 | 0 | 4 | cool |
| November | 48°F | 31°F | 2.3 in | 3.1 in | 5 | 0 | 16 | cold |
| December | 36°F | 22°F | 1.9 in | 9.2 in | 4 | 0 | 26 | cold |
| Year | 57°F avg | 39°F avg | 35.3 in | 43.4 in | 67 | 9 | 132 |
"Wet days" are days with at least 0.1 inch of precipitation. "Feels" is a plain-language label for the average high. Normals for 1991-2020 from NOAA NCEI, station Chicago Waukegan Regional Airport, IL (USW00014880), 3.7 miles from the city center; snowfall from Lake Villa 2Ne, IL. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Waukegan
The shortest day is December 21, with 9h 04m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 15h 17m. The earliest sunset comes around December 3 (4:18 pm) and the latest around June 24 (8:32 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 92 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 am | 4:43 pm | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:47 am | 5:23 pm | 10h 36m |
| March | 7:03 am | 6:57 pm | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:10 am | 7:32 pm | 13h 22m |
| May | 5:30 am | 8:06 pm | 14h 36m |
| June | 5:14 am | 8:29 pm | 15h 16m |
| July | 5:28 am | 8:26 pm | 14h 58m |
| August | 5:58 am | 7:52 pm | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:31 am | 7:00 pm | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:04 am | 6:08 pm | 11h 04m |
| November | 6:42 am | 4:29 pm | 9h 46m |
| December | 7:13 am | 4:19 pm | 9h 05m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Waukegan with NOAA's solar equations, in local clock time (Central Time, including daylight saving time where it applies). Times shift by a minute or two from year to year.
Is Waukegan getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 2.6°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Waukegan.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Waukegan?
July is the warmest month, with an average high of 81°F and an average low of 62°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Waukegan?
January is the coldest, with average lows of 16°F and highs of 31°F.
What is the rainiest month in Waukegan?
June gets the most precipitation, 4.5 inches on average. January is the driest at 1.4 inches.
Does it snow in Waukegan?
Yes. Waukegan averages 43 inches of snow a year.
When is the best time to visit Waukegan?
For comfortable weather, May to September. Those months average highs between 62 and 86°F with lows of 42°F or more and modest rain.
Thinking of moving to Waukegan?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Waukegan profile.
Compare the weather: Waukegan vs Kenosha, Waukegan vs Arlington Heights, Waukegan vs Evanston, Waukegan vs Racine.