You’ve probably seen it before. You look at the app, it says "Chicago," and you assume that's exactly what's happening ten miles west in Oak Brook. Honestly, it’s a mistake almost everyone makes until they’ve spent a winter morning standing in the parking lot at Oakbrook Center.
The weather forecast Oak Brook IL often carries its own specific flavor that doesn't quite match the lakefront or the deep prairies further west. It's a bit of a microclimate tug-of-war.
The Immediate Outlook: Cold and Flurries
Right now, as of early Saturday, January 17, 2026, we’re looking at a pretty standard, albeit bone-chilling, Illinois morning. The current temperature is sitting at 12°F, but if you’re heading out for coffee or an early run, the "feels like" is much worse.
Thanks to a 10 mph wind coming out of the west, the wind chill is bottoming out at -0°F.
Basically, it's the kind of cold that bites your nose the second you step out of the garage. We’ve got partly sunny skies for the moment with a low UV index of 0, so don't expect the sun to provide any actual warmth.
What to Expect for the Rest of Today
As we move through Saturday, the high is only going to hit 18°F. That’s a far cry from "comfortable." We’re expecting snow showers to move in during the afternoon.
The chance of precipitation is relatively low at 20%, but in this kind of cold, even a little bit of snow can make the local roads like 22nd Street or York Road feel a bit greasy. The wind is also picking up slightly to 14 mph from the west.
Tonight, it stays cloudy and drops back down to 12°F. If you have plans at the hotels or restaurants in the area, keep that 20% snow chance in mind for the drive home.
The Sunday and Monday Shift
Tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, brings a slight "warm-up" to 21°F, which is kind of hilarious to call warm. We’ll see more snow showers with a 25% chance of accumulation during both the day and night.
The real story, though, is Monday.
Monday, January 19, is when the floor drops out. We’re looking at a high of just 6°F and a low of 4°F. When you factor in a 16 mph wind, the Monday morning commute is going to be brutal. It’ll be mostly sunny, but that's just a "cold sun" that doesn't do much for the spirit or the thermostat.
Why Oak Brook Weather is Deceptive
Oak Brook sits in a unique spot. It’s far enough from Lake Michigan that we lose the "lake effect" warming in the winter. While the city might be slightly buffered by the water, Oak Brook gets the full, unfiltered blast of the western winds coming across the open fields of the Fox Valley.
Also, the sheer amount of concrete and asphalt—the mall, the corporate offices, the vast parking lots—creates a mini heat island during the day, but that heat vanishes instantly once the sun goes down.
Looking Ahead: The 10-Day Trend
If you’re looking for a break, you’ll have to wait until the middle of next week.
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- Tuesday, Jan 20: Cloudy with a high of 25°F. Snow chance jumps to 35% at night.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: A decent day with 27°F and some sun.
- Thursday, Jan 22: Back down to 21°F and mostly cloudy.
- Friday, Jan 23: Hovering at 22°F.
The end of the month looks like more of the same—lots of snow showers and highs struggling to break out of the teens. Specifically, Saturday and Sunday (Jan 24-25) are looking like consistent snow days with highs of 19°F and 18°F.
Practical Steps for the Week
- Check Your Tires: In 12-degree weather, tire pressure drops significantly. Don't ignore that dashboard light before you hit I-88.
- Layer for the Mall: If you're walking between stores at Oakbrook Center, you need a heavy outer shell. The wind tunnels between the buildings are legendary.
- Garage Your Car: Monday’s 4°F low is prime "battery failure" territory. If you have a garage, use it.
- Hydrate: We forget to drink water when it’s freezing, but the 62% humidity is actually quite drying on the skin and throat.
Keep an eye on the sky this afternoon. Those snow showers might be light, but they’re coming.