If you’ve lived in Chicago for more than a week, you know the sky is basically a gaslighter. You wake up, it’s 40 degrees, you think about leaving the heavy parka at home, and by 5:00 PM, you’re reconsidering every life choice that led you to Northern Illinois. This Friday, January 16, 2026, is shaping up to be one of those classic "Windy City" bait-and-switches.
Honestly, the weather in chicago for friday looks decent on paper, but the reality is going to be messy. We are sitting right in the "warm sector" of a fast-moving clipper system. That sounds nice, right? "Warm sector" usually implies sunshine and maybe a light cardigan. Not here.
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The Friday Morning Sludge
Expect a high of roughly 34°F to 36°F. That’s technically above freezing, which is the problem. After the snow we saw on Thursday night—roughly 1 to 3 inches depending on if you’re in Naperville or closer to the lake—Friday morning is going to be a slushy disaster.
The National Weather Service is tracking a warm front that should lift through the area early Friday morning. It’ll stop the snow, but it won't dry the roads. Instead, you'll be dealing with that grey, salty Chicago sludge that ruins leather boots and makes the Dan Ryan look like a swamp.
Visibility might stay a bit low too. Humidity is pegged at around 83%. When you combine that with temperatures hovering just above freezing, you get that heavy, damp air that feels colder than the thermometer says.
Is it rain or is it snow?
The short answer: Yes.
By Friday afternoon, we’re looking at a rain-snow mix. Meteorologist Nick Patrick from WAND-TV noted that while temperatures might even touch 40°F in some of the southern suburbs, the city proper will likely stay in the mid-30s. This is the worst kind of weather for commuting. It’s not "pretty" snow. It’s "my windshield wipers can’t keep up with this frozen spit" weather.
Precipitation chances are sitting at about 25% to 30% for the daylight hours, but that jumps significantly as the sun goes down.
Why you should care about the Friday Night Arctic Front
If you have Friday night plans in River North or Wicker Park, listen up. The "warm" air is a temporary guest. A potent Arctic front is scheduled to steamroll through the Chicagoland area late Friday evening.
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This is where things get dicey.
- The Flash Freeze: Any standing water or slush from the afternoon is going to turn into sheet ice.
- The Wind: We’re looking at southwest winds around 17 mph during the day, but they’ll shift and gust harder as the cold air moves in.
- The Drop: We’re going from a high of 34°F down to a low of 20°F (or lower in the exurbs) in just a few hours.
Comparing this to the "Great Deluge" of last week
It’s wild to think that just a week ago, on January 8th, we broke rainfall records. O’Hare recorded 1.92 inches of rain in a single day, smashing a record that had stood since 1935. We’ve gone from record-breaking rain to record-breaking "weirdness" in seven days. This Friday isn't about volume; it's about the transition.
The lake is still relatively "warm" at 4°C (about 39°F), which adds moisture to these systems. That’s why we keep seeing these "thumpings" of snow followed by immediate melting and refreezing.
Surviving the Weather in Chicago for Friday
You don't need a meteorology degree to navigate this, but you do need to be smarter than the weather app on your iPhone. Those apps usually give you a single icon—a cloud with a snowflake. They don't tell you that the I-90 is going to be a skating rink by 8:00 PM.
The Commuter Reality Check
If you are taking the Metra, expect some delays. Wintry mixes like the one forecasted for Friday often mess with switch heaters. If you’re driving, give yourself an extra 20 minutes for the morning commute just to handle the slush.
The real danger is the evening. As that Arctic air returns, the "clipper-like" system will pull reinforcing polar air across the Midwest. By Saturday, we’ll be lucky to see 24°F. Friday is essentially the transition zone from "tolerable" to "downright miserable."
What to wear (The "Chicagoland Onion" Strategy)
Layering isn't a suggestion; it's a survival tactic.
- Base layer: Moisture-wicking. You’ll sweat in the 36-degree afternoon, and if that sweat stays on your skin when the temp drops to 20, you’re done.
- Outer layer: Waterproof. Since we’re expecting a rain-snow mix, a wool coat will just get heavy and damp. Go with a shell or a treated parka.
- Footwear: Forget the sneakers. The slush on the corners of State and Lake will be deep enough to ruin your day.
Actionable Next Steps for Friday
Don't let the mid-30s fool you into complacency.
- Check the "Last Update" time: Weather in the Great Lakes region changes hourly. If your forecast is from six hours ago, it’s basically ancient history.
- Clear your gutters now: If you have a home in the city or suburbs, ensure your downspouts are clear. That Friday afternoon rain needs somewhere to go before it freezes solid on Friday night.
- Top off the washer fluid: The salt spray on Friday will be intense. You'll go through a half-gallon of orange or blue de-icer just getting to work and back.
- Pet Safety: If you’re walking the dog, wipe those paws. The salt they use on the sidewalks is extra aggressive when it's mixed with Friday's slush.
This Friday is basically a reminder that January in Chicago is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re in a pattern of "back-to-back" clippers, and this one is just the gateway to a very frigid weekend. Brace for the slush, prepare for the freeze, and maybe keep the heavy boots by the door for a few more months.