Chicago weather in January
January in Chicago: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit.
#12 of 12 months in Chicago · #531 of 604 destinations to visit in January · comfort 40/100 (tier F)
Updated June 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Chicago climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 1°C / 33°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -5°C / 23°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -4°C / 25°F | |
| Rainfall | 69 mm / 2.7 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 10 days | |
| Humidity | 77% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -7°C / 20°F | |
| Sunshine | 4.8 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | |
| Wind | 23 km/h / 14 mph | |
| Snowfall | 30.5 cm / 12 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 43 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Where is Chicago?
Loading map…
Chicago in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Chicago?
- January in Chicago: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Chicago on SeasonMap's comfort score (40/100).
- What is the weather like in Chicago in January?
- In January, Chicago averages a daily high of 0.6°C and a low of -5.2°C, with about 68.8 mm of rain over roughly 10.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Chicago in January?
- Chicago has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 43 in January.
- Does it snow in Chicago in January?
- Chicago sees roughly 30.5 cm of snowfall in January.