Weather on January 21
Chicago, IL
55 Years of Data
Avg High
30°F
Avg Low
19°F
Warmest
2017
48°F avg
Coldest
1984
-6°F avg
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.
Cooling Trend
1.0°F per decade on this date
| 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° | — | — |
53 years of data from CHICAGO GRANT PARK