Chicago Sees Wettest Spring in Over 40 Years

Record rainfall in April pushes region toward top 5 wettest springs on record

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:04pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, capturing the sublime scale of a rainstorm as it engulfs a small town in the distance, the buildings and structures barely visible through the heavy downpour.As heavy spring rains continue to batter the Chicago region, the overwhelming power of nature is laid bare in a landscape that dwarfs the human-built environment.Chicago Today

The Chicago area has experienced its wettest spring in 43 years, with over 10 inches of rain already recorded by mid-April. Tuesday's 2.43 inches of rainfall at O'Hare International Airport marked the second-wettest April day in over 50 years, and the region is on pace to potentially record one of its top 5 wettest springs on record.

Why it matters

The unusually heavy rainfall has caused significant flooding and disruption across the Chicago metropolitan area, impacting transportation, infrastructure, and daily life for residents. The extreme weather also highlights the growing challenges posed by climate change, with the region experiencing more frequent and intense storm systems.

The details

Tuesday's 2.43 inches of rain at O'Hare set the second-highest single-day rainfall total for April, behind only the 3.54 inches that fell on April 18, 2013. The all-time record for an April day in Chicago is 3.83 inches, set on April 18, 1975. So far in 2026, the Chicago area has received over 10 inches of rain during the first half of the meteorological spring (March, April, May), putting it on pace to potentially surpass the wettest spring on record, which was 17.51 inches in 1983.

  • Tuesday's 2.43 inches of rainfall at O'Hare International Airport was recorded on April 15, 2026.
  • The previous record for an April day in Chicago was 3.54 inches, set on April 18, 2013.
  • The all-time record for an April day in Chicago is 3.83 inches, set on April 18, 1975.

The players

National Weather Service Chicago

The regional office of the National Weather Service that monitors and reports on weather conditions in the Chicago metropolitan area.

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What they’re saying

“A daily record rainfall of 2.43' was set at #Chicago-O'Hare yesterday (shattered previous record of 1.21" from 1949). This was the rainiest April day at ORD since 4/18/2013 (3.54"). The 2.43' that fell yesterday makes it the 6th rainiest April day on record for Chicago.”

— NWS Chicago

What’s next

The National Weather Service is forecasting additional strong-to-severe thunderstorms for the Chicago area on Wednesday night, which could bring even more heavy rainfall and potential flooding.

The takeaway

The extreme rainfall in Chicago this spring underscores the growing threat of climate change, with the region experiencing more frequent and intense storm systems that are disrupting daily life and straining infrastructure. As the city and its residents work to adapt, the focus will be on improving resilience and preparedness for future extreme weather events.