Climate in Champaign Urbana (Illinois)

The climate of Champaign-Urbana is continental, with very cold winters and warm to hot summers, during which there are quite frequent thunderstorms.
Champaign and Urbana are two sister cities located in Illinois, about 200 km (125 mi) south of Chicago and 225 meters (740 ft) above sea level.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -3.3 °C (26 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 23.7 °C (74.7 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 940 millimeters (37 inches) per year.



Winter, from late November to early March, is very cold. On average, there are 34 icing days (that is, on which the air temperature does not go above freezing).
Snowfalls are frequent, and at times can be abundant. On average, 53 centimeters (20 inches) of snow fall per year. The snowiest winter was that of 1977-78, when 170 cm (67 in) of snow fell. However, snow is not as abundant as on the east coast of the United States or in the Great Lakes region.
Cold waves are intense, in fact, the temperature drops below -20 °C (-4 °F) almost every year. The record cold of the last decades, -31 °C (-24 °F), was set in December 1989.
However, there can also be short, fairly mild periods, with highs of 12/13 °C (54/55 °F) or more.

Summer, from June to August, is hot and quite sunny, although thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
However, there can sometimes be very hot and muggy periods. On average, there are 22 days with a maximum temperature equal to or above 32 °C (90 °F), and that usually happens from May through September. Typically, the temperature reaches 35/36 °C (95/97 °F) on the hottest days of the year, although the record is 40 °C (104 °F), set in late June 1988.

Spring and autumn, from mid-March to May and from September to mid-November, are contrasted seasons, with fairly frequent rains and sudden changes in temperature. However, there are also stable and pleasant periods.

We are in the area where tornadoes can form, which are more likely in spring, but sometimes can also occur in autumn.

For the sunshine hours, we can refer to the city of Indianapolis, which is not far. On average, there are around 2,440 sunshine hours per year. Therefore, even though the winter is cold and the summer is rainy, the sun shines for a good number of hours.

Best Time

The best times to visit Champaign-Urbana are spring and autumn, especially the months of May and September.
In October, you can admire the beautiful colors of the trees losing their leaves (the phenomenon called fall foliage).

Champaign Urbana - Climate data

In Champaign Urbana, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -3.3 °C (26 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 23.7 °C (74.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 940 millimeters (37 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 45 mm (1.8 in) in the driest month (February) to 110 mm (4.3 in) in the wettest ones (May, June) Here is the average precipitation.

Champaign Urbana - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -3.3 °C (26 °F), with a minimum of -7.8 °C (17.9 °F) and a maximum of 1.2 °C (34.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21 °C (-6 °F). However, it dropped to -30.6 °C (-23.1 °F) in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in January 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).

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February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.9 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -5.7 °C (21.7 °F) and a maximum of 3.8 °C (38.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17 °C (1 °F). However, it dropped to -26.7 °C (-16.1 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it reached 22.2 °C (72 °F) in February 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.2 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) and a maximum of 10.8 °C (51.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -22.8 °C (-9 °F) in March 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 11.6 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.9 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.1 °C (12 °F) in April 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 32.2 °C (90 °F) in April 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.8 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 11.3 °C (52.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.2 °C (75.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in May 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 22.6 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 16.5 °C (61.7 °F) and a maximum of 28.6 °C (83.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.8 °C (37 °F) in June 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 23.7 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 18 °C (64.4 °F) and a maximum of 29.4 °C (85 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 22.7 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 16.7 °C (62.1 °F) and a maximum of 28.6 °C (83.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it dropped to 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in August 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in August 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.4 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) and a maximum of 26.3 °C (79.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in September 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 6.2 °C (43.1 °F) and a maximum of 19.4 °C (66.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -6.1 °C (21 °F) in October 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in October 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.5 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 0.1 °C (32.2 °F) and a maximum of 10.8 °C (51.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -18.3 °C (-0.9 °F) in November 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 27.2 °C (81 °F) in November 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.4 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -4.7 °C (23.6 °F) and a maximum of 3.9 °C (39.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -15.5 °C (3.5 °F). However, it dropped to -23.3 °C (-9.9 °F) in December 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it reached 22.8 °C (73 °F) in December 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).