Mount Prospect weather is a bit of a trickster. You wake up thinking it’s a standard Chicago suburban morning, only to find out that the temperature in Mount Prospect is doing something entirely different than what your phone app predicted three hours ago. It’s frustrating.
Living here means you learn the "lake effect" dance pretty early on. Even though we aren't sitting right on the shoreline like Evanston or Rogers Park, the proximity to Lake Michigan creates these weird micro-climates that mess with the thermometer. Sometimes we're five degrees warmer than the city; sometimes we're shivering while the Loop is dry. It's inconsistent. That’s just the reality of the 60056 zip code.
The Reality of Temperature in Mount Prospect Throughout the Year
If you’re looking at the raw data, the average high in July hits around 83°F. That sounds pleasant. It's not. Humidity in the Village of Mount Prospect can make an 80-degree day feel like you're walking through a warm, wet blanket. We get these stagnant air masses that sit over the flat Northwest Suburbs, trapped between the urban heat island of Chicago and the more open prairie lands to the west.
Winter is a different beast.
January typically sees highs near 30°F, but that’s a deceptive number. The wind chill is the real killer here. Because Mount Prospect has relatively flat topography, there isn't much to break the wind coming off the plains. When those polar vortex events dip down—like the ones we saw in 2019 and again in more recent seasons—the actual temperature in Mount Prospect can plummet to -20°F with wind chills hitting -40°F. At those temperatures, exposed skin freezes in minutes. It’s serious stuff.
Spring and the "Cooler by the Lake" Curse
Spring is arguably the most unpredictable season. You’ll have a day in late April where it’s 70°F at noon, and then the wind shifts. If that breeze starts coming from the East or Northeast, the lake-cooled air rushes inland. I’ve seen the temperature drop 20 degrees in under an hour. It’s enough to give you whiplash.
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Locals know the drill: never pack away the winter coat until June. Seriously. We’ve had snow in May. It doesn’t happen every year, but it happens enough to keep you humble.
Why Your Weather App is Probably Wrong
Most national weather services pull data from O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Since O'Hare is practically our neighbor, you’d think the data would be identical. It isn't.
O’Hare is a massive heat sink. All that asphalt, concrete, and jet exhaust keeps the ambient temperature a few degrees higher than the residential streets of Mount Prospect. If you live near Randhurst Village or over by Lions Park, you might notice your backyard thermometer reads 2 to 3 degrees lower than what the "official" O'Hare reading says.
- Pavement vs. Parks: Mount Prospect has a lot of green space compared to the airport.
- Elevation: There are subtle shifts in elevation as you move toward the Des Plaines River that affect cold air drainage at night.
- The Des Plaines River Factor: If you're on the east side of town near the river, the humidity is always a tick higher, which makes the heat feel more oppressive in August.
Extreme Records and What They Actually Mean
The record high for this area is somewhere around 105°F, set way back in the 1930s, though we hit 103°F during the 2012 heatwave. On the flip side, the record low is a bone-chilling -27°F.
But records are just outliers.
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What really matters for your daily life is the "RealFeel." In the summer, the dew point is the metric you should actually be watching. Once the dew point hits 70°F, it doesn't matter if the temperature in Mount Prospect is 80 or 90; you’re going to be miserable. The air can't hold any more moisture, so your sweat doesn't evaporate.
In the winter, watch the "Alberts" or "Alberta Clippers." These fast-moving storms don't always bring a ton of snow, but they drag behind them a wall of arctic air that will drop the mercury faster than you can find your ice scraper.
Urban Heat Islands and the Mount Prospect Microclimate
It’s interesting how development has changed our local climate. As more multi-use developments go up near the Metra station, we’re seeing a mini urban heat island effect right in the center of town.
Basically, the brick and stone buildings soak up the sun all day and radiate it back out at night. If you live in an older, leafier part of town with giant silver maples and oaks, your house will stay significantly cooler than the newer condos downtown.
Trees aren't just for aesthetics. They are natural air conditioners. A street with a full canopy can be 10 degrees cooler than a parking lot at Rand and Central.
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The Impact of Climate Trends
We have to talk about the trend line. Over the last twenty years, the average nighttime low temperature in Mount Prospect has been creeping up. Our winters are getting "mushier"—more sleet and freezing rain, less consistent deep freezes. This sounds like a win if you hate shoveling, but it’s actually tough on the local ecosystem. Pests like emerald ash borers and certain fungi don't die off like they used to when we had three straight weeks of sub-zero temps.
Survival Tips for the 60056 Climate
If you’re new to the area or just trying to manage your utility bills, there are a few things that actually work for this specific climate.
- Humidity control is everything. In the summer, run a dehumidifier in your basement. It makes the rest of the house feel five degrees cooler because the damp air isn't rising.
- The "Cross-Breeze" Strategy. Because Mount Prospect usually gets a western breeze, opening windows on the west and east sides of your home in the evening can flush out the daytime heat without needing the AC.
- Winter Prep. Insulate your pipes on the north-facing walls. When the temperature in Mount Prospect hits those negative double digits, those are the first to burst.
- Watch the wind, not the sun. A sunny winter day is often the coldest because there's no cloud cover to trap the earth's heat.
Honestly, the weather here is just a part of the suburban Chicago identity. You complain about it, you buy a heavy-duty snowblower, and you keep a spare hoodie in your trunk even in July.
Actionable Steps for Managing Local Weather
Stop relying on the generic "Chicago" forecast. It’s too broad. Use a localized station or a personal weather station (PWS) app like Weather Underground that pulls data from actual backyards in Mount Prospect.
Check your attic insulation before November. Most older homes in the village are under-insulated, meaning you're losing heat—and money—straight through the roof when the mercury dips.
Plant a deciduous tree on the south side of your property. It will provide shade during the scorching July peaks and drop its leaves in the winter to let the sun naturally warm your home. It’s a long-term play, but your HVAC system will thank you.
Lastly, pay attention to the National Weather Service (NWS) Chicago briefings. They are based in Romeoville, but they provide the most granular data for the Northwest Suburbs. They’ll tell you when a "lake-enhanced" snow band is about to dump four inches on us while Arlington Heights stays dry. Being prepared for those weird local shifts is the only way to stay sane.