Winter in the Windy City usually follows a predictable, if brutal, script. You get the gray skies, the biting wind off Lake Michigan, and that specific type of slush that ruins every pair of shoes you own. But honestly, weather for chicago il has been acting a little weird lately. If you stepped outside on January 8th and thought you’d accidentally teleported to April, you weren't alone. It hit 60°F at O'Hare.
That tied a record from 1880. Basically, Chicago hasn't seen a January day that warm in nearly 150 years. Then, because this is the Midwest and nothing makes sense, we got slapped with 1.92 inches of rain that same day—the third-rainiest January day in the city's recorded history.
The Snow Squall That Nobody Saw Coming
Fast forward to January 14, 2026. The warmth was long gone. A sudden "snow squall" (which is basically a winter thunderstorm without the lightning, usually) ripped through the morning commute. It was kind of terrifying. Visibility dropped to about 100 feet in some spots. One minute you're driving on I-55, and the next, it’s a total whiteout.
👉 See also: Why artificial plants for privacy are actually better than the real thing
Winds were gusting up to 43 mph at the airport. National Weather Service (NWS) Chicago was firing off warnings like crazy. If your phone started screaming at you that morning, that was why. These squalls are dangerous because they cause "flash freezes" on the pavement.
What’s Happening Right Now?
If you're looking at the sky today, Friday, January 16, 2026, it’s back to the classic Chicago vibe. Cloudy. Here is the quick breakdown of what to expect for the rest of the day:
- Current Temp: 34°F (though it feels more like 25°F because of that southwest wind).
- High Today: 35°F.
- Low Tonight: 19°F.
- Precipitation: About a 35% chance of snow during the day, dropping to 20% tonight.
It's not exactly a blizzard, but it's cold enough to keep the salt trucks busy. The humidity is sitting high at 85%, so that "damp cold" is going to sink right into your bones. You've probably noticed that the sun is a rare guest this month. On average, we only get about 4 hours of actual sunshine a day in January.
The Lake Effect Reality Check
We can't talk about weather for chicago il without mentioning the Lake. Lake Michigan is still relatively warm—around 39°F (4°C). When that freezing Arctic air moves over the water, it creates those intense lake-effect snow bands. We saw this back in November when some areas got a foot of snow while other neighborhoods barely saw a flake.
Predicting where those bands hit is sort of a nightmare for meteorologists. This year, the snow season got off to a "roaring start." By early December, Chicago had already recorded 17.1 inches of snow. To put that in perspective, that’s almost the entire total for the entire previous winter.
Survival Tips for the 2026 Chill
Since the forecast for the end of January (the 22nd through the 31st) is looking snowy and turning cold again, you should probably prepare for the "deep freeze" part of the season.
- Check your tires now. Those flash freezes we saw on the 14th aren't over.
- Watch the southwest wind. It’s hitting 13-16 mph today, which makes 34°F feel significantly worse.
- Layers, obviously. But specifically, moisture-wicking ones. With humidity at 85%, if you sweat in your heavy coat, you'll stay damp and get colder faster.
- Download the NWS app. The Snow Squall Warnings are literally life-savers for commuters.
The city's period of record for temperatures goes back to 1872, and while we're seeing more "extreme" events—like the flooding on the 8th—the core of a Chicago winter remains the same. It's a test of endurance.
Next Steps for You
Check your basement if you live in areas like Belmont Cragin or Portage Park. The heavy rains earlier this month caused significant flooding, and with more snow and eventual melting on the horizon, you'll want to ensure your sump pump is actually working. Keep an eye on the evening temperatures; as we drop toward 19°F tonight, any damp pavement from today's 35% snow chance will turn into a skating rink.