Weather on January 21
Chicago, IL
55 Years of Data
About This Date
January 21st in Chicago, IL typically brings very cold winter weather, with average highs around 30°F and lows near 19°F. Over 53 years of records, the warmest January 21st was in 2017 (48°F average), while the coldest was 1984 (-6°F) — a 54°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 15% of recorded January 21st dates, with snow falling 4% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 1.5"). The last decade has been 1.4°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 1.4°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for January 21st in Chicago, IL? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 32° | 23° | 28° | — | — |
| 2025 | 2° | -7° | -3° | — | — |
| 2024 | 22° | 6° | 14° | — | — |
| 2023 | 32° | 28° | 30° | — | — |
| 2022 | 25° | 13° | 19° | — | — |
| 2021 | 42° | 32° | 37° | — | — |
| 2020 | 31° | 20° | 25° | — | — |
| 2019 | 16° | 10° | 13° | — | — |
| 2018 | 41° | 35° | 38° | — | — |
| 2017warmest | 59° | 37° | 48° | — | — |
| 2016 | 28° | 18° | 23° | — | — |
| 2015 | 33° | 30° | 32° | — | — |
| 2014 | 21° | 4° | 12° | — | — |
| 2013 | 17° | 6° | 12° | — | — |
| 2012 | 29° | 22° | 25° | — | — |
| 2011 | 14° | 2° | 8° | — | — |
| 2010 | 36° | 31° | 33° | — | — |
| 2009 | 32° | 17° | 25° | — | — |
| 2008 | 29° | 11° | 20° | — | — |
| 2007 | 31° | 27° | 29° | — | — |
| 2006 | 36° | 26° | 31° | — | — |
| 2005 | 24° | 16° | 20° | — | — |
| 2004 | 38° | 14° | 26° | — | — |
| 2003 | 19° | 8° | 14° | — | — |
| 2002 | 35° | 30° | 33° | 0.1" | — |
| 2001 | 28° | 12° | 20° | — | — |
| 2000 | 15° | -2° | 7° | — | — |
| 1999 | 41° | 33° | 37° | 2.24" | — |
| 1998 | 32° | 28° | 30° | — | — |
| 1994 | 18° | -17° | 1° | — | — |
| 1993 | 41° | 34° | 37° | 1.91" | — |
| 1992 | 39° | 23° | 31° | — | — |
| 1991 | 34° | 12° | 23° | 0.3" | 0.8" |
| 1990 | 36° | 27° | 31° | 0.2" | — |
| 1989 | 34° | 23° | 28° | — | — |
| 1988 | 37° | 26° | 32° | — | — |
| 1987 | 27° | 17° | 22° | — | — |
| 1986 | 50° | 30° | 40° | — | — |
| 1985 | 18° | -15° | 2° | — | — |
| 1984coldest | 1° | -14° | -6° | — | — |
| 1983 | 36° | 24° | 30° | — | — |
| 1982 | 29° | 24° | 26° | 0.51" | 1.5" |
| 1981 | 38° | 28° | 33° | — | — |
| 1980 | 36° | 22° | 29° | — | — |
| 1979 | 35° | 26° | 31° | 0.05" | — |
| 1978 | 26° | 10° | 18° | 0.28" | — |
| 1977 | 26° | 13° | 19° | — | — |
| 1976 | 26° | 18° | 22° | — | — |
| 1975 | 37° | 26° | 32° | — | — |
| 1974 | 38° | 36° | 37° | — | — |
| 1973 | 37° | 29° | 33° | — | — |
| 1972 | 38° | 27° | 32° | — | — |
| 1971 | 38° | 28° | 33° | — | — |
Chicago, IL Temperature Range by Month
Average monthly highs and lows. The shaded band shows the typical daily temperature range.
Chicago, IL Monthly Precipitation
Average rainfall per month, in inches.
Chicago, IL Daily Temperature Calendar
Average daily high temperature for every day of the year. Each cell is the climatological mean for that calendar day across 55 years of NOAA data.
Best Time to Visit Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL has no months that meet our "pleasant" threshold — every season has tradeoffs.