Joliet, IL weather in January
In January, Joliet sees highs around 31°F and lows around 17°F: cold, with frequent rain and some snow. Expect about 11 wet days. Snowfall averages about 5.0 in. It is one of the coldest months in Joliet. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 31°F
- Normal low
- 17°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.0 in
- snow on the ground 12 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 32°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 16°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:18 am / 4:32 pm | 7:04 am / 5:06 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 (25 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
- 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more12 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.0 in; a dry January brings about 1.1 in and a wet one about 2.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.0 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 43°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 24°F
- Wettest January2008: 3.6 in
- Driest January2003: 0.3 in
- Highest reading65°F (January 8, 2008)
- Lowest reading-22°F (January 31, 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 | 36°F | 31°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 17°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.6 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Indianapolis, IN158 mi · high 36°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Wisconsin Dells, WI169 mi · high 26°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI207 mi · high 26°F · 11 wet days
How Joliet ranks in January
- Normal high336th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days294th driest of 378
- Comfortable days281st most of 339
What to pack for Joliet in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 17°F, highs near 31°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 12 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1276 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 Joliet in January?
The normal high is 31°F and the normal low is 17°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -22°F (most recently on January 31, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Joliet in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (3.6 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Joliet in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 5.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 12 days.
Is January a good time to visit Joliet?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Joliet (27 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Joliet Brandon Rd Dam (USC00114530), 1.9 mi SW of the city center, 543 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Chicago Midway Airport (USW00014819), 25 mi NE of the city center, 612 ft (71 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Chicago Midway Intl Arpt (725340-14819), 25 mi NE of the city center, 610 ft (69 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).