Lower West Side weather in February

In February, Lower West Side sees average daytime highs of 34°F and overnight lows near 22°F, with 2.1 in of precipitation across 7.5 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 31°F in the first days to 37°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time in February, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 48 min at the start of February to 10 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Lower West Side's 10th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Lower West Side's year-round climate.

Daytime high
34°
11th warmest
Overnight low
22°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
2.1 in
7.5 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
6:56 AM – 5:15 PM
Cloud cover
68%
10th clearest
Wind
10 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
2.93 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Lower West Side is community area in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

Density
4,746/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in February

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 31°F in the first days to 37°F by the end.

A typical February day in Lower West Side reaches about 34°F in the afternoon and slips back to 22°F overnight — a 13°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°F and 48°F. Set against its neighbours, February runs about 3°F warmer than January and about 10°F cooler than March.

20°40°60°151015202528
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13119
23119
33119
43119
53219
63219
73220
83220
93320
103320
113320
123321
133421
143421
153422
163522
173522
183522
193623
203623
213623
223724
233724
243724
253724
263724
273825
283825

How February really feels in Lower West Side

Once humidity and wind are folded in, February averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 28 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
28
24 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

The story in February is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Lower West Side weather by month

How February compares with the rest of the year at a glance. February is the 11th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 19°2.49.16.19.30.0
Feb34° / 22°2.17.54.810.30.0
Mar44° / 30°2.810.33.111.70.9
Apr56° / 41°4.512.4113.13.5
May67° / 52°4.312.4014.35.8
Jun77° / 63°4.012.10156.4
Jul82° / 67°3.611.6014.76.2
Aug80° / 66°3.810.9013.76.6
Sep73° / 58°3.08.8012.37.0
Oct61° / 47°3.39.50.110.95.1
Nov47° / 35°2.891.29.61.6
Dec36° / 26°2.48.74.290.0

Cloud cover in February

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time in February.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of February, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 65%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13268
23367
33367
43367
53466
63466
73565
83565
93565
103565
113565
123565
133565
143565
153565
163565
173565
183664
193565
203565
213565
223664
233664
243763
253763
263664
273763
283763

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitationSnow

Lower West Side gets around 2.1 in of rain and snow over 7.5 wet days in February, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 27% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202528
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12519
22519
32519
42418
52418
62418
72518
82518
92517
102517
112517
122517
132516
142516
152616
162616
172716
182716
192816
202816
212917
222917
232917
243017
253017
263117
273117
283117

Humidity in February

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of February feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, February lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100

Wind in February

Winds average 10 mph in February.

Across February, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202528
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
910light breeze
1010light breeze
1110light breeze
1210light breeze
1310light breeze
1410light breeze
1510light breeze
1610light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light breeze
1910light breeze
2010light breeze
2110light breeze
2210light breeze
2310light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 48 min at the start of February to 10 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 66 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 7:11 AM to 6:37 AM, and sunset from 4:57 PM to 5:31 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.87:114:57
29.87:104:58
39.87:095:00
49.97:085:01
59.97:075:02
610.07:065:03
710.07:055:05
810.07:045:06
910.17:035:07
1010.17:025:08
1110.27:015:10
1210.26:595:11
1310.26:585:12
1410.36:575:14
1510.36:565:15
1610.46:545:16
1710.46:535:17
1810.46:525:19
1910.56:505:20
2010.56:495:21
2110.66:485:22
2210.66:465:24
2310.76:455:25
2410.76:435:26
2510.86:425:27
2610.86:405:29
2710.96:395:30
2810.96:375:31

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 2.93 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.61 kWh/m² to a high of 6.55 kWh/m² in June across the year — February's 2.93 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202528
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.4Moderate
22.5Moderate
32.5Moderate
42.5Moderate
52.6Moderate
62.6Moderate
72.7Moderate
82.7Moderate
92.7Moderate
102.8Moderate
112.8Moderate
122.9Moderate
132.9Moderate
142.9Moderate
153.0Moderate
163.0Moderate
173.0Moderate
183.1Moderate
193.1Moderate
203.1Moderate
213.2Moderate
223.2Moderate
233.3Moderate
243.3Moderate
253.3Moderate
263.4Moderate
273.4Moderate
283.5Moderate
Planning a trip in February

Is February a good time to visit Lower West Side?

Our two travel scores rate February for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

February is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Lower West Side.

What to pack for Lower West Side in February

From February's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In February, Lower West Side sees daytime highs around 34°F and nights near 22°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Lower West Side in February

The nearest coast averages about 36°F in February — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in February near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 13 to Sep 15 — about 2.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr39Bracing
May45Bracing
Jun57Bracing
Jul70Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep68Refreshing
Oct58Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec42Bracing

UV index in Lower West Side in February

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in February peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Lower West Side peaks around June 23 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 23UV 9Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Lower West Side in February

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where February falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Lower West Side is worst in July — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 10 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodJul 921 µg/m³Oct 2410 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar18Moderate
Apr19Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul21Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Lower West Side?

Lower West Side sits at 41.9°N, 87.7°W, 594 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Chicago, 0.6 mi away.

Topography around Lower West Side

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Lower West Side.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Lower West Side has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 131 ft around an average of 597 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 630 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 751 ft.

The land around Lower West Side is covered by artificial surfaces (88%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (58%) and water (30%) within 10 miles, and water (35%) and cropland (22%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
131 ft
10 miles
630 ft
50 miles
751 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
February weather nearby: Chicago 0.6 mi · Bridgeport 1.2 mi · McKinley Park 1.9 mi · Near South Side 1.9 mi · South Lawndale 2.5 mi · Chicago Loop 2.5 mi · East Garfield Park 2.5 mi · North Lawndale 2.5 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Lower West Side (41.8542°, -87.6656°, elevation 594 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).