Northern Illinois, Illinois, United States of America: What to pack, what to wear, and when to go [2021]
This article contains affiliate links to Amazon and other vendors. We may earn commission from purchases made through these links. Traveling to Northern Illinois, Illinois, United States of America? If you're planning to go to Northern Illinois, this is some important information about when to go, what to wear, and what to pack.
Contents
- When to go to Northern Illinois
- Important essentials for Northern Illinois
- Northern Illinois in January: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in February: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in March: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in April: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in May: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in June: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in July: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in August: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in September: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in October: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in November: weather and what to pack
- Northern Illinois in December: weather and what to pack
When to go to Northern Illinois, Illinois, United States of America
Based on the climate and weather in Northern Illinois, the best time to go is August. See below for details.
Important esssentials for Northern Illinois, Illinois, United States of America
Here are some general tips on what to wear in Northern Illinois, as well as several items to remember to pack when traveling there.
IMPORTANT COVID-19 PACKING ESSENTIALS
- proof of COVID-19 vaccination if you have it
- vaccine card protector
- N95 masks for top protection
- kids' KN95 masks
- hand sanitizer
- touchless thermometer
- travel disinfecting wipes (for plane, etc)
- A plug adapter that supports outlet types A and B. This one should work in most places, but you should check with your hotel.
- A portable power bank, like this one
- A SIM card that works in Northern Illinois. A good global SIM card works in most countries, but check the country list before buying. In some locations you may need a satellite phone. We recommend this satellite phone
- Emergency water purifier
- For families with young children:
- Amboy visitors tend to do a lot of walking, so a lightweight backpack like this is essential
- Airplane or car necessities:
- Photography items that we like:
- cell phone photography gimbal
- camera drone for outdoor shots
- extra batteries
- extra memory cards
What to wear/what to pack for Northern Illinois, Illinois, United States of America by month
January
January in Northern Illinois is very cold and snowy. The snow can amount to several inches/centimeters.
During this time, temperatures average in the low 20s F (single digits below 0 C) to low 30s F (single digits below 0 C), although night temperatures can dip into the single digits F (10+ below zero C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Multiple layer jacket shell:
- Heavy sweaters:
- Lip balm
- Pajamas
- Scarf our favorite
- Gloves
- Thermal undergarments. We love:
- Very heavy socks, or heated socks like these
- Coveralls; here are some of our favorites:
- Fleeces
- Insulated boots. We use:
- In addition to day-to-day footwear, you should bring snow boots. For visiting Northern Illinois, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A umbrella is essential in this type of weather. This one is an excellent option.
February
February in Northern Illinois is freezing and snowy. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the high 10s F (single digits below 0 C), with a few days below 0 F (10+ below zero C). It tends to rain about a third of the time.
It also snows once in a while. But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 60% to 70% range on average.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Lip balm
- Fleeces
- Pajamas
- Multiple layer jacket shell:
- Thermal undergarments. We love:
- Insulated boots. We use:
- Scarf our favorite
- Coveralls; here are some of the best values:
- Very heavy socks, or heated socks like these
- Heavy sweaters:
- Gloves
- In addition to regular shoes, you should bring snow boots. For travel to Northern Illinois, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A wind resistant umbrella is vital here. This one is an excellent choice.
March
March for Northern Illinois is pretty cool, snowy and somewhat rainy. Temperatures average in the 40s F (single digits C) during the day. It rains about a third of the time and snows occasionally.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Gloves or mittens
- Heavy jacket
- Lip balm
- Sweaters
- Warm pants or jeans
- Insulated water bottle
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to regular shoes, you should bring snow boots. For visiting Northern Illinois, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A wind resistant umbrella is important here. This one is a perfect option.
April
April in Northern Illinois is cool and somewhat rainy. Temperatures average in the low 50s F (mid 10s C) during the day. It rains 5-10 days this month.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Warm pants or jeans
- Fleeces
- Light gloves or mittens
- Jacket or coat
- Socks
- Lip balm
- Standard footwear
- A rain jacket to layer with a coat
- Waterproof footwear. We suggest:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Windproof umbrella. This one is a great option.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your belongings stay dry. We recommend: this one
May
May is mild and somewhat rainy. Temperatures average in the low 70s F (low 20s C) during the day. It rains a bit less than half of the time.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Sandals
- Light footwear
- Sunscreen lotion
- Shorts or short pants
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Dresses
- Skirts
- Bug repellent
- A rain jacket to layer with another jacket
- Waterproof footwear. We suggest these:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Wind resistant umbrella. This one is an excellent one to buy.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your bags remain dry. We suggest: this one
June
If you vacation in Northern Illinois during June, you might find that it is pretty consistently hot and somewhat rainy. Temperatures tend to hover around the low 80s F (high 20s C) during the day, while at night they can dip into the high 50s F (mid 10s C).
Humidity is generally between 50 and 60% during the day. In terms of precipitation, you can expect it to rain about a third of the time.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Dresses
- Light footwear
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Sandals
- Bug repellent
- Skirts
- Sunscreen lotion
- Shorts or short pants
- A rain coat to layer with a coat
- Waterproof footwear. We recommend these:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Windproof umbrella. This one is a great choice.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your things remain dry. We like: this one
July
July in Northern Illinois is consistently hot and somewhat rainy. The rain can amount to several inches/centimeters.
During this time, temperatures average in the high 80s F (low 30s C), although night temperatures can dip into the low 60s F (mid 10s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Bug repellent
- Skirts
- Insulated water bottle
- Shorts
- Dresses
- Short sleeve shirts
- Sunscreen lotion, moderate SPF
- Sunglasses
- Waterproof sandals
- A rain poncho to layer with a jacket
- Waterproof footwear. We like these:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Windproof umbrella. This one is an excellent one to buy.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your things remain dry. We suggest: this one
August
Traveling to Northern Illinois in August, you will notice that it is hot. Expect it to rain regularly. Daytime temperatures are in the 80s F (high 20s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Short sleeve shirts
- Waterproof sandals
- Shorts
- Sunglasses
- Insulated water bottle
- Dresses
- Bug repellent
- Sunscreen lotion, moderate SPF
- Skirts
- A rain poncho to layer with a coat
- Waterproof footwear. We like these:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Wind resistant umbrella. This one is an excellent choice.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your bags don't get wet. We like: this one
September
September for Northern Illinois is a perfect temperature. Temperatures average in the high 70s F (mid 20s C) during the day. It rains 5-10 days this month.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Light footwear
- Skirts
- Shorts or short pants
- Sunscreen lotion
- Sandals
- Bug repellent
- Dresses
- A rain poncho to layer with a coat
- Waterproof footwear. We use:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Umbrella. This one is a perfect choice.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your suitcases stay dry. We like: this one
October
October in Northern Illinois is relatively cool. Temperatures average in the 60s F (high 10s C) during the day. It rains 5-10 days this month.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Pants or jeans
- Socks
- Standard footwear
- Dresses
- Light jacket or fleece
- Long skirts
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- A rain jacket to layer with another jacket
- Waterproof footwear. We recommend:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Windproof umbrella. This one is a perfect one to buy.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your things don't get wet. We recommend: this one
November
November in Northern Illinois can be very chilly. The rain/snow can amount to several inches/centimeters.
During this time, temperatures average in the high 30s F (single digits C) to high 40s F (single digits C), although night temperatures can dip into the low 20s F (single digits below 0 C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Insulated water bottle
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Lip balm
- Heavy jacket
- Gloves or mittens
- Warm pants or jeans
- Sweaters
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to standard shoes, you should bring snow boots. For traveling to Northern Illinois, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A umbrella is vital here. This one is a great option.
December
December here is very cold, snowy and somewhat rainy. Temperatures average in the 30s F (single digits C) during the day. It rains regularly and snows 5-10 days this month.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Heavy sweaters:
- Gloves
- Lip balm
- Scarf our favorite
- Fleeces
- Very heavy socks, or heated socks like these
- Thermal undergarments. We chose:
- Multiple layer jacket shell:
- Pajamas
- Coveralls; here are some of the best choices:
- Insulated boots. We use:
- In addition to day-to-day footwear, you should bring snow boots. For traveling to Northern Illinois, we suggest these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A windproof umbrella is vital here. This one is a great option.
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