Typical January weather
Chicago
Illinois · January
32° days
19° nights
about 9 snowy days · 9½ hours of daylight
What to pack
- Warm coat
- Gloves & beanie
- Snow boots
What January feels like
January is when the wind coming off the water turns a walk down Michigan Avenue into a negotiation; locals call it the Hawk, and it is not affectionate. Restaurant Week lands late in the month, which is the city's honest admission that you will be eating indoors.
Winter is doing its thing: 11.3 in of snow in a typical January, with fresh snow on about 9 days. Nearly every night dips below freezing.
The numbers
| Typical high | 32° |
|---|---|
| Typical low | 19° |
| Days with snow | 9 |
| Rain and melted snow | 2.0 in |
| Snowfall | 11.3 in |
| Humidity | dry air |
| Sunrise / sunset (mid-month) | 7:15 am / 4:44 pm |