January weather forecast
Illinois, USA

January stands as the coldest month in Illinois, truly embodying the state's winter spirit. Northern regions, notably close to the Wisconsin border, experience the harshest conditions, with daytime temperatures often hovering near the freezing point. Conversely, the southern areas, such as near the Kentucky border, fare slightly better, albeit still chilly.

Chicago, as a notable city and often dubbed "The Windy City", is particularly brisk during this month. The influence of Lake Michigan further accentuates the cold, occasionally ushering in lake effect snow. This phenomenon results in more significant snowfall amounts for the city and its immediate surroundings compared to other regions in the state.

In January, night temperatures can be especially severe, frequently plunging below 0°F (-17.8°C) in the more northern expanses of Illinois. The statewide snow cover is almost universal, with accumulation ranging from 14" (356mm) in the south to an imposing 38" (965mm) in the north.

When juxtaposed with December, January exhibits marginally colder average temperatures, and when contrasted with the approaching month of February, January remains the pinnacle of the winter's cold, though February also continues the wintry trend with significant snowfall and chilling temperatures.

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• Chicago - January »
  In Chicago in January, snow falls for 10.6 days, with typically accumulated 3.39" (86mm) of snow. January, with average temperatures reaching a high of 29.7°F (-1.3°C) and a low of 20.7°F (-6.3°C), is the coldest month in Chicago, Illinois.
• Aurora - January »
  In Aurora in January, during 9.1 snowfall days, 1.69" (43mm) of snow is typically accumulated. In Aurora in January, it is raining for 4.3 days, with typically 0.59" (15mm) of accumulated precipitation.
• Rockford - January »
  In Rockford in January, snow falls for 13 days, with typically accumulated 4.88" (124mm) of snow. January is the most humid month in Rockford with an average relative humidity of 86%.
• Joliet - January »
  The month with the most snowfall in Joliet is January, when snow falls for 11.9 days and typically aggregates up to 4.33" (110mm) of snow. The month with the most snowfall in Joliet is January, when snow falls for 11.9 days and typically aggregates up to 4.33" (110mm) of snow.
• Naperville - January »
  January and February, with an average relative humidity of 83%, are the most humid months in Naperville, Illinois. January has the least sunshine of the year in Naperville with an average of 3.8h of sunshine.
• Springfield - January »
  January, February, November and December, with an average maximum UV index of 2, are months with the lowest UV index in Springfield, Illinois. In Springfield in January, during 6.7 rainfall days, 1.26" (32mm) of precipitation is typically accumulated.
• Peoria - January »
  The month with the most snowfall in Peoria is January, when snow falls for 9 days and typically aggregates up to 2.36" (60mm) of snow. The month with the most snowfall in Peoria is January, when snow falls for 9 days and typically aggregates up to 2.36" (60mm) of snow.
• Elgin - January »
  In Elgin in January, snow falls for 12.9 days, with typically accumulated 3.62" (92mm) of snow. With average high temperatures of 27.3°F (-2.6°C) and lows of 15.4°F (-9.2°C), January is the coldest month in Elgin, Illinois.
• Waukegan - January »
  In Waukegan, during January, snow falls for 12.4 days and regularly aggregates up to 2.24" (57mm) of snow. On the first day of January in Waukegan sunrise is at 7:20 am and sunset at 4:29 pm.
• Champaign - January »
  The month with the most snowfall in Champaign is January, when snow falls for 8.7 days and typically aggregates up to 1.85" (47mm) of snow. In Champaign, during January, snow falls for 8.7 days and regularly aggregates up to 1.85" (47mm) of snow.
• Cicero - January »
  In Cicero, during January, snow falls for 10.4 days and regularly aggregates up to 1.06" (27mm) of snow. In Cicero, during January, the rain falls for 5.4 days and regularly aggregates up to 0.51" (13mm) of precipitation.
• Bloomington - January »
  The month with the least rainfall in Bloomington is January, when the rain falls for 5.6 days and typically collects 1.18" (30mm) of precipitation. The month with the most snowfall in Bloomington is January, when snow falls for 11.5 days and typically aggregates up to 2.44" (62mm) of snow.