Chicago, IL weather in January
January in Chicago: cold and snowy. Highs 33°F, lows 20°F, rain or snow on about 12 days and about 12.5 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Chicago. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 33°F
- Normal low
- 20°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 2.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.5 in
- snow on the ground 18 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 34°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 19°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:18 am / 4:30 pm | 7:03 am / 5:04 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 10.0 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am24°Fdew point 17°F
- 9 am25°Fdew point 18°F
- Noon29°Fdew point 19°F
- 3 pm30°Fdew point 20°F
- 6 pm28°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 pm26°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Chicago Midway Airport (7 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more18 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry January brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 3.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 12.5 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 42°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 24°F
- Wettest January2005: 5.3 in
- Driest January2003: 0.5 in
- Highest reading65°F (January 7, 2008)
- Lowest reading-22°F (January 30, 2019)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
January compared with December and February
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 38°F | 33°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 20°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.5 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Drier: Galena, IL148 mi · high 29°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Madison, WI123 mi · high 27°F · 11 wet days
How Chicago ranks in January
- Normal high313th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days298th driest of 378
- Comfortable days278th most of 339
What to pack for Chicago in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 20°F, highs near 33°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 18 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1204 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 18% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Chicago in January?
The normal high is 33°F and the normal low is 20°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -22°F (January 30, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Chicago in January?
About 12 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (5.3 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.5 in).
Does it snow in Chicago in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 12.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 18 days.
Is January a good time to visit Chicago?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Chicago (26 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Chicago Midway Airport 3SW (USC00111577), 10 mi SW of the city center, 620 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Chicago Midway Airport (USW00014819), 6.9 mi SW of the city center, 612 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Chicago Midway Intl Arpt (725340-14819), 7.1 mi SW of the city center, 610 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).