Climate Insights for River Forest

The climate in River Forest is temperate. The average annual temperature is 11°C and approximately 1019mm of precipitation falls per year. River Forest receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. River Forest is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to -5°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 106cm accumulating over the season.

Temperatures in River Forest vary considerably across the year, with a 31°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 26°C and the mean temperature sits around 23°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -5°C and the daily average is -3°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 5°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between November and December, with a 11°C shift in average temperatures.

River Forest is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 1019mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 85mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 137mm of rainfall. March and April also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is January, with just 46mm. That's 91mm less than August, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 106cm accumulating over the season. December typically sees the most snow at around 46cm.

River Forest is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 5km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 7km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 3km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 4km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 6km/h in winter, 5km/h in spring, 4km/h in summer, 5km/h in autumn.

It is currently summer in River Forest, which began on June 21, 2026. River Forest is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 26°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -5°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 53 days from now.

The best time to visit River Forest is during June, July and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 21°C with modest rainfall averaging 76mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to -5°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for River Forest based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.