Honestly, if you've lived in the 60016 or 60018 zip codes for more than a week, you know the drill. You check the weather Des Plaines IL hourly forecast, see a 10% chance of snow, and the next thing you know, you’re digging your sedan out of a drift on Miner Street. It's just how life works here.
Right now, as of Saturday, January 17, 2026, the situation is... well, it's classic January. We're looking at a current temperature of 17°F, but that number is a total lie. Thanks to a 13 mph wind coming straight out of the west, the feels-like temperature is a brutal 3°F. If you're heading out to the Metra station or grabbing a coffee downtown, don't even think about leaving without the heavy parka.
Why the Hourly Numbers Matter Today
Most people just glance at the daily high and think they're fine. Big mistake. Today’s high is capped at that same 17°F, and we’re expecting it to drop to a low of 11°F tonight.
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But here’s the kicker: the sky is currently cloudy with a 10% chance of snow, which bumps up to 25% as we move through the afternoon and evening. It’s not a blizzard, but "snow showers" are the official word for the day. In Des Plaines, 25% often means just enough slickness to make the intersection of Northwest Highway and Mount Prospect Road a giant headache.
The O'Hare Factor
You can't talk about Des Plaines weather without mentioning O'Hare. We're so close that the airport's microclimate basically dictates our lives. When the wind kicks up to 15 mph like it’s expected to today, it whistles across those runways and hits us without any windbreaks.
Humidity is sitting at 59% right now, which is actually somewhat dry for a snowy day. That usually means the snow we do get will be that light, powdery stuff. Great for looking pretty on the trees near the Des Plaines River, but terrible for visibility if you're driving.
What the River is Doing
The Des Plaines River is the constant "elephant in the room." While we aren't under a major flood warning today—the current focus is definitely on the cold—local gauges at Algonquin Road are always worth a side-eye when precipitation is in the forecast.
Historical data shows that January usually sees about 3.7 to 4.0 inches of total snowfall. We're right in the thick of that. The river gauge levels are currently stable, but with the "feels like" temps staying in the single digits, the bigger concern is ice jams or freezing pipes rather than rising water.
Surviving the Next Few Hours
If you’re planning your day, basically just plan to be cold. The UV index is a flat 0, so there’s no sun to save you.
- Now through 4:00 PM: Expect steady clouds and that biting 13-15 mph west wind.
- Evening: The chance of snow showers holds steady at 25%. It'll be dark, it'll be 11°F, and it'll be cloudy.
- Driving: Watch for black ice on the bridge over the I-294.
For the most accurate hyper-local updates, a lot of locals swear by the Weather Underground network because it pulls from personal weather stations right in our neighborhoods. AccuWeather’s MinuteCast is also a solid bet if you’re trying to time your walk to the grocery store between snow flurries.
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Actionable Next Steps
Check your tire pressure. Seriously. These 17°F temps cause the air in your tires to contract, and that "low pressure" light is going to pop up the second you hit the road.
Keep a small bag of sand or salt in your trunk. With a 25% chance of snow showers and temps staying well below freezing, side streets in the older parts of town can get greasy fast.
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Lastly, if you're walking the dog near the river trails, remember that 3°F wind chill. It's not just "chilly"—it's the kind of cold that hits your lungs. Stick to short walks until the wind dies down later tonight.