USA
Chicago in January: weather & travel advice
This month's data profile
Balanced monthly profile
Chicago in January is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around 0 °C. With about 9 rainy days it is moderate.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
37/100 · #11
Warmth
#12
Dryness
#2
Sun
#11
Published best categories: none
Chicago · JanuaryPhoto: G B_NZ · CC BY-SA 2.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 0 °C
- Average low
- -5 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 9 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 2 h/day
- Humidity
- 87 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 3 | -2 | 9 | 55 | 1.6 | 85 | 5.5 | 37 |
| January (selected) | -0 | -5 | 9 | 51 | 1.8 | 87 | 5.7 | 37 |
| February | 1 | -5 | 7 | 49 | 2.9 | 84 | 5.2 | 43 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: January (37/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | ±0 | +2.9 °C | +3.2 °C | ±0 | +3.9 mm | -0.2 h | -1.7 % | -0.2 m/s |
| February | +6 | +1.1 °C | +0.6 °C | -1.7 | -2.4 mm | +1.1 h | -2.7 % | -0.5 m/s |
All twelve months in context
Find a place to stay
Where to stay in Chicago
Compare available stays, prices and cancellation terms for Chicago on Booking.com.
Booking.comFind places to stayAffiliate link: there is no extra cost to you.
Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Chicago in January?
The average daily high is around 0 °C, with an average daily low of about -5 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Chicago in January?
The curated estimate is about 9 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 51 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
By the climate score, June, July, August and September are the strongest months for Chicago. January is not among them.