When to go · Chicago
Chicago in January
Avoid month. Listed as a month to avoid: Jan–Feb (cold and windy), late Jul–Aug (heat and humidity).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Temperature
- 1°C34°F / −7°C19°F
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 8
- Crowds
- Low
- United States overall
- Prices
- Low
- United States overall
Verdict
AvoidBest and avoid months for Chicago
Listed as a month to avoid: Jan–Feb (cold and windy), late Jul–Aug (heat and humidity).
Weather in January
- ChicagoHighs around 1 °C, lows around -7 °C, rain on about 8 daysHighs around 34 °F, lows around 19 °F, rain on about 8 days
- Midwest and Great Lakes, United States · Chicago, Detroit, Minneapoliscool
Hard winters (−15 °C cold snaps and lake-effect snow), warm summers; tornadoes in spring on the Plains.Hard winters (5 °F cold snaps and lake-effect snow), warm summers; tornadoes in spring on the Plains.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · United States overall
- Low
- Prices · United States overall
- Low
United States overall: Cold and snowy north and in the mountains; Florida, Hawaii and the desert Southwest are the picks.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket