Chicago · WinterMonth summary
Chicago weather in January
⚠️ Fair
🌡️ Temperature min / max
-5°C – 1°C
🌧 Rainy days
31% of days
☀️ Sunshine
5.6h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
4.0/10
📅 📅 Best month
July (8.2/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Chicago in January?
⚠️ Fair
✅ Yes if: you enjoy winter atmosphere and the lowest prices of the year.
❌ No if: you're looking for sunshine or outdoor activities.
Our take: Chicago in January: 31% rain, 5.6h of sunshine. Better to wait for July.
By trip type
Chicago in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ❌ Not recommended
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : — No sea access
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Tourist low season — museums and monuments without queues Winter in Chicago is cool (1°C during the day). Days are short (5.6h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 31% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌨️ January | -5°C | 1°C | 31% | 2.1 | 5.6h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌨️ February | -5°C | 2°C | 30% | 2.1 | 8.3h | 4.2/10 |
| 🌦️ March | 0°C | 7°C | 40% | 3.0 | 9.4h | 4.2/10 |
| 🌦️ April | 4°C | 12°C | 46% | 3.3 | 9.9h | 4.9/10 |
| 🌤️ May | 9°C | 18°C | 39% | 4.0 | 11.8h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 16°C | 25°C | 37% | 3.7 | 13.3h | 8.1/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 19°C | 27°C | 40% | 4.8 | 13.3h | 8.2/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 19°C | 26°C | 38% | 3.4 | 12.7h | 8.1/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 16°C | 23°C | 32% | 3.1 | 11.3h | 7.8/10 |
| ⛅ October | 9°C | 17°C | 38% | 4.0 | 9.3h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌫️ November | 2°C | 9°C | 26% | 2.0 | 7.2h | 4.7/10 |
| 🌨️ December | -3°C | 3°C | 28% | 1.9 | 5.8h | 4.0/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In January, Chicago averages 1°C, 31% rainy days and 5.6h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 4.0/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs July (best month)
The best month is July (score 8.2/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +26°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +9%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +7.7h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Chicago in January
Is January a good time to visit Chicago?
January is not recommended for Chicago (score 4.0/10). With 31% rainy days and 5.6h of sunshine, consider July (8.2/10) instead.
What's the weather like in Chicago in January?
It's cool with 1°C daytime and -5°C at night. 5.6h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
Accommodation
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