If you plan to visit Chicago in January, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +32°F during the day and approximately 3 sunny days. Expect some snowy, though, as there are typically 11 snowy days in the month and around 30 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
January is usually the coldest month of the year in Chicago;
Average weather
☀️
+32°F
Avg. max. temperature
-22°F
Min.
+64°F
Max.
23 mm
Total precipitation
73%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
15 ⛅️
Cloudy
3 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Chicago has OK weather in January.
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Average temperature in Chicago in January
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Chicago for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +52°F during the day to a minimum of +5°F during the night, the temperature in January averages around +37°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 65% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +46°F to +16°F.
Is Chicago warm or cold in January?
Chicago is typically chill in January.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +37°F to +32°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +27°F to +21°F.
Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
January is the coldest month in Chicago, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Chicago in January
Water in Chicago in January is Cold. It varies from +37°F to +41°F, with an average of +39°F.Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +32°F.
The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in Chicago are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +74°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +37°F.
Can you swim in Chicago in January?
We would not recommend swimming in Chicago in January, the water is very cold (+39°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Chicago in January
Chicago weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+37°F
+32°F
+34°F
Min. temperature
-17°F
-22°F
-15°F
Max. temperature
+72°F
+64°F
+64°F
Rainfall
42 mm
23 mm
21 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+42°F
+39°F
+37°F
Humidity
73%
73%
71%
Air pressure
1018 HPa
1018 HPa
1018 HPa
Sunny days
3
3
3
Cloudy days
14
15
13
Rainy days
6
3
2
Snowy days
8
11
9
January weather is still as ok as in December.It’s getting colder in January. From +37°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +32°F.As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 42 mm to 23 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 73%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 4 m/s.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 3 sunny days during the month.
February brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Chicago in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 6 m/s getting up to 12 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Chicago is gradually increasing during January, going from 4 m/s to 4 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 29% chance of rain on an average day in January, with total rainfall of approximately 74 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 38 mm, which is moderate rain.On average, there are about 9 rainy days during January, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Chicago wettest month is May, where a typical day has a 42% chance of precipitation and 101 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 7% chance of precipitation and 21 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during January in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 32% chance of snow on an average day in January, with a total monthly snowfall of approximately 21 mm.
January is one of the snowiest months in Chicago.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last January in Chicago?
This is the weather in Chicago in January 2023:
1 January
☁️
+46°F
2 January
🌫️
+43°F
3 January
🌧️
+43°F
4 January
☁️
+45°F
5 January
🌨️
+34°F
6 January
☁️
+34°F
7 January
☁️
+32°F
8 January
☁️
+34°F
9 January
☁️
+43°F
10 January
☁️
+49°F
11 January
☁️
+49°F
12 January
🌫️
+48°F
13 January
🌨️
+37°F
14 January
☁️
+32°F
15 January
☁️
+42°F
16 January
☁️
+44°F
17 January
☁️
+51°F
18 January
☁️
+39°F
19 January
🌧️
+41°F
20 January
☁️
+38°F
21 January
☁️
+32°F
22 January
🌨️
+33°F
23 January
🌨️
+31°F
24 January
☁️
+37°F
25 January
🌨️
+35°F
26 January
🌨️
+33°F
27 January
🌨️
+35°F
28 January
🌨️
+35°F
29 January
🌨️
+31°F
30 January
🌨️
+25°F
31 January
☀️
+15°F
In January 2023 Chicago had 1 sunny days, 16 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +37°F, with an absolute maximum of +52°F and a minimum of +16°F. The average humidity was 80%, with a maximum of 97% and a minimum of 43%. The average wind speed was 6 m/s, with a maximum of 17 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Chicago climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Chicago in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+54°F) and the highest in 2012 (+63°F). The driest year was 2005 with only 501 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1535 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Chicago in January:
Is January a good time to visit Chicago?
It’s always a good time to visit Chicago, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Chicago in January?
Not really, January is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Chicago in January?
Swimming in Chicago in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Chicago rainy in January?
Chicago is usually dry in January. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.
Is it sunny in Chicago in January?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Chicago in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Chicago, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
