Chicago weather in January
Chicago in January averages -3°C (26°F) and 58 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in Chicago, January is the coldest and the second driest.
- Average temp
- -3°C (26°F)
-7–0°C · 19–32°F
- Rainfall
- 58 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 18 km/h
What is Chicago like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Chicago in January?
A light rain jacket
About 58 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around -7°C (19°F).
January compared with December and February
January in Chicago is 3°C cooler than December and about as wet as it, which averages 0°C (31°F).
January in Chicago is 2.1°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages -1°C (29°F).
Daylight in Chicago in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 9 hours 28 minutes in Chicago, rising about 07:15 and setting about 16:44 local time.
January ends 47 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 5 hours 45 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Chicago
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Chicago
What to read before you book.
Chicago weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | -3°C / 26°F | 58 mm |
| February | -1°C / 29°F | 54 mm |
| March | 4°C / 39°F | 68 mm |
| April | 10°C / 50°F | 105 mm |
| May | 16°C / 62°F | 121 mm |
| June | 22°C / 72°F | 115 mm |
| July | 25°C / 76°F | 102 mm |
| August | 24°C / 74°F | 104 mm |
| September | 20°C / 67°F | 85 mm |
| October | 13°C / 55°F | 98 mm |
| November | 6°C / 42°F | 69 mm |
| December | 0°C / 31°F | 59 mm |
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Chicago in January
January climate averages for Chicago, 1991–2020.
Chicago averages -3°C (26°F) in January, ranging from about -7°C (19°F) at night to 0°C (32°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 58 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. January averages -3°C (26°F) against -1°C (29°F) in February — 2.1°C cooler.
January is 3°C cooler than December, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 9 hours 28 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 15 hours 13 minutes in June and 9 hours 9 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 07:15 and sunset about 16:44 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 47 minutes longer than it starts.
