Water Temperature of the Chicago River in Chicago, IL

Current Water Temperature

54.0°F 12.2°C
Cold Thermal Gear Required
54.0°F
Frigid < 50°F
Cold 50°–60°
Cool 60°–70°
Comfortable 70°–80°
Warm 80°+

Cold shock risk with rapid dexterity loss (10–15 mins). Wetsuit or drysuit strongly advised for any immersion.

Measurement Time: Sunday, November 15, 2026, 2:30 AM CST

Temperature Locations

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Local Points of Interest

Chicago Park District

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Chicago River

Station Name: CHICAGO S & S CANAL AT WESTERN AVE AT CHICAGO, IL
Data Source: Water Data - usgc.gov

Elevation Above Sea Level: 591 feet

Nearest Address:
3101 S Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
Cook County

GPS Coordinates: 41.8375, -87.6852778

Nearby Water Temperatures

Lake Michigan, Chicago, IL (7.3 mi)
Cal-Sag Channel, Blue Island, IL (12.8 mi)
Grand Calumet River, Chicago, IL (14.4 mi)
Indiana Harbor Canal, East Chicago, IN (17.1 mi)
Grand Calumet River, Hammond, IN (17.9 mi)
Lake Michigan, Wilmette, IL (20.6 mi)
Hart Ditch, Munster, IN (21.8 mi)
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL (23.6 mi)
Little Calumet River, Gary, IN (24 mi)
Plum Creek, Dyer, IN (24.5 mi)
Deep River, Lake Station, IN (27.4 mi)
Des Plaines River, Lockport, IL (27.4 mi)
Des Plaines River, Joliet, IL (29.2 mi)
Des Plaines River, Rockdale, IL (31.9 mi)
Lake Michigan, Waukegan, IL (37.1 mi)

Marine Weather for the Chicago River in Chicago, IL

Marine Weather

Coastal & Marine Conditions
Open-Meteo Marine
1.6ft 0.5 m
Light Chop Gentle waves and light chop, ideal for water activities.
Wave Period 4.7s
Wave Direction 20° NNE
Swell Waves
1.6 ft
4s • 20° NNE
Wind Waves / Chop
0.1 ft
0.5s • 299° WNW
High and low tide forecasts are not applicable for freshwater lake stations.

5-Day Marine Wave Forecast

Today
Nov 15
2.4 ft
5.2s • NNE
Mon
Nov 16
0.7 ft
4s • NNE
Tue
Nov 17
0.6 ft
2.3s • SSE
Wed
Nov 18
1.3 ft
2.8s • SSE
Thu
Nov 19
1.3 ft
2.8s • S

Weather for Chicago, Illinois

Current Weather

36.9°F
Sunny
Conditions: Sunny
Humidity: 85%
Feels Like: 31.6°F
Wind: WNW 4 mph
Wind Gusts: 8.7 mph
Pressure: 30.39 in
Precipitation: 0 in
Cloud Cover: 14%
Visibility: 9.9 mi
UV Index: 1.3

Five-Day Weather Forecast

Overcast
Sun
H: 50°F
L: 31°F
Overcast
Mon
H: 52°F
L: 31°F
Overcast
Tue
H: 55°F
L: 33°F
Overcast
Wed
H: 59°F
L: 46°F
Overcast
Thu
H: 62°F
L: 51°F

Air Quality

EPA Index 1 • Good

Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.

PM2.5
8.4 μg/m³
Good
PM10
8.5 μg/m³
Good
Ozone (O3)
26 μg/m³
Photochemical
NO2
29 μg/m³
Nitrogen Dioxide
SO2
2.2 μg/m³
Sulfur Dioxide
CO
262 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide

Astronomical

Sun
9h 50m daylight
Sunrise 6:41 AM
Solar Noon 11:35 AM
Sunset 4:30 PM
Moon
Waxing Crescent • 31%
Moonrise 12:01 PM
Transit 4:48 PM
Moonset 9:43 PM

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

3:55 AM - 6:25 AM
4:18 PM - 6:48 PM

Minor Periods

11:31 AM - 1:01 PM
9:13 PM - 10:43 PM
Action Rating:
Very Good 4/5
Sunday, November 15, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Overcast
Average Temperature: 38.3°F
Average Humidity: 81%
Chance of Rain: 0%
Wind: 5 mph
UV Index: 2.9

Air Quality

EPA Index 2 • Moderate
PM2.5
14.3 μg/m³
Moderate
PM10
14.6 μg/m³
Good
Ozone (O3)
30.3 μg/m³
Photochemical
NO2
33.4 μg/m³
Nitrogen Dioxide
SO2
4 μg/m³
Sulfur Dioxide
CO
257.9 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide

Astronomical

Sun
9h 50m daylight
Sunrise 6:41 AM
Solar Noon 11:35 AM
Sunset 4:30 PM
Moon
Waxing Crescent • 31%
Moonrise 12:01 PM
Transit 4:48 PM
Moonset 9:43 PM

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

3:55 AM - 6:25 AM
4:18 PM - 6:48 PM

Minor Periods

11:31 AM - 1:01 PM
9:13 PM - 10:43 PM
Action Rating:
Very Good 4/5
Monday, November 16, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Overcast
Average Temperature: 39.2°F
Average Humidity: 73%
Chance of Rain: 0%
Wind: 8.2 mph
UV Index: 2.9

Air Quality

EPA Index 2 • Moderate
PM2.5
19.9 μg/m³
Moderate
PM10
20.3 μg/m³
Good
Ozone (O3)
19.4 μg/m³
Photochemical
NO2
43.5 μg/m³
Nitrogen Dioxide
SO2
6.1 μg/m³
Sulfur Dioxide
CO
295.8 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide

Astronomical

Sun
9h 47m daylight
Sunrise 6:42 AM
Solar Noon 11:35 AM
Sunset 4:29 PM
Moon
First Quarter • 42%
Moonrise 12:27 PM
Transit 5:32 PM
Moonset 10:47 PM

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

4:40 AM - 7:10 AM
5:02 PM - 7:32 PM

Minor Periods

11:57 AM - 1:27 PM
10:17 PM - 11:47 PM
Action Rating:
Good Action 3/5
Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Overcast
Average Temperature: 46°F
Average Humidity: 57%
Chance of Rain: 0%
Wind: 9.7 mph
UV Index: 2.9

Air Quality

EPA Index 2 • Moderate
PM2.5
13.4 μg/m³
Moderate
PM10
13.4 μg/m³
Good
Ozone (O3)
24.9 μg/m³
Photochemical
NO2
31.5 μg/m³
Nitrogen Dioxide
SO2
3.5 μg/m³
Sulfur Dioxide
CO
225.3 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide

Astronomical

Sun
9h 45m daylight
Sunrise 6:43 AM
Solar Noon 11:35 AM
Sunset 4:29 PM
Moon
First Quarter • 54%
Moonrise 12:50 PM
Transit 6:15 PM
Moonset 11:51 PM

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

5:24 AM - 7:54 AM
5:45 PM - 8:15 PM

Minor Periods

12:20 PM - 1:50 PM
11:21 PM - 12:51 AM
Action Rating:
Fair Action 2/5
Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Overcast
Average Temperature: 52°F
Average Humidity: 47%
Chance of Rain: 0%
Wind: 14.9 mph
UV Index: 2.9

Air Quality

EPA Index 2 • Moderate
PM2.5
10.5 μg/m³
Good
PM10
10.6 μg/m³
Good
Ozone (O3)
45.3 μg/m³
Photochemical
NO2
21.2 μg/m³
Nitrogen Dioxide
SO2
2.7 μg/m³
Sulfur Dioxide
CO
198.6 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide

Astronomical

Sun
9h 43m daylight
Sunrise 6:44 AM
Solar Noon 11:35 AM
Sunset 4:28 PM
Moon
First Quarter • 65%
Moonrise 1:10 PM
Transit 6:58 PM
Moonset 1:36 AM

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

6:06 AM - 8:36 AM
6:28 PM - 8:58 PM

Minor Periods

1:06 AM - 2:36 AM
12:40 PM - 2:10 PM
Action Rating:
Fair Action 2/5
Thursday, November 19, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Overcast
Average Temperature: 55.2°F
Average Humidity: 55%
Chance of Rain: 5%
Wind: 14.7 mph
UV Index: 2.9

Air Quality

EPA Index 2 • Moderate
PM2.5
7.6 μg/m³
Good
PM10
8.1 μg/m³
Good
Ozone (O3)
56.1 μg/m³
Photochemical
NO2
15.7 μg/m³
Nitrogen Dioxide
SO2
2.1 μg/m³
Sulfur Dioxide
CO
199.3 μg/m³
Carbon Monoxide

Astronomical

Sun
9h 42m daylight
Sunrise 6:45 AM
Solar Noon 11:36 AM
Sunset 4:27 PM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous • 75%
Moonrise 1:31 PM
Transit 12:00 PM
Moonset 12:57 AM

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
11:55 PM - 2:25 AM

Minor Periods

12:27 AM - 1:57 AM
1:01 PM - 2:31 PM
Action Rating:
Fair Action 2/5
The times presented here are based upon the solunar theory, which is the idea that the movements of fish and other animals are affected by the location of the sun and moon. The major periods are believed to be the times of the greatest animal activity and occur when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot (lunar transits). The minor periods also see increased activity and occur when the moon is rising or setting. The strongest activity occurs during full or new moons, and the weakest during quarter or three quarter moons. This is indicated by the Action Rating.

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