Stadium Weather Guide

Rate Field Weather: Chicago Wind, South Side Summers

By Kevin Roth, sports meteorologist. Data-driven ballpark guide for DFS players and bettors.

Climate

The White Sox park sits about three miles south of downtown Chicago and roughly two miles from Lake Michigan. Chicago summers run warm-humid with July averages around 84 degrees at Midway. Lake breeze from the east arrives in the afternoon on many days and can drop temperatures sharply between first pitch and the sixth inning.

How wind plays here

Center field is to the east-northeast (bearing 45 degrees). West and southwest winds blow out to center and right, and lake breeze from the east blows straight in. The lake breeze effect is the story at this park: a stiff summer south wind at first pitch can flip to a 10 mph east wind by the fifth inning.

For DFS and bettors

Lake-breeze timing determines the run environment. Afternoon games on warm humid days almost always see the breeze arrive, which kills carry after about 4 PM. Night games behind a warm-front push with south wind are the highest-scoring setups.