Honestly, if you're looking out a window in the Loop right now and thinking it looks "fine," you might want to check the actual numbers before heading out. Chicago doesn't play around in mid-January. Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the city is settling into a classic, bone-chilling winter pattern that feels a lot meaner than the thermometer suggests.
Right now, the air temperature is sitting at 23°F.
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That sounds manageable for a Chicagoan, right? Well, not exactly. With a steady 15 mph wind coming straight out of the west, the real feel—that "feels like" temperature—is actually a biting 10°F. It’s the kind of cold that finds the tiny gap between your scarf and your coat and just stays there. Humidity is hovering around 71%, giving the air that heavy, damp chill that makes the cold feel like it’s soaking into your skin.
The Forecast: What’s Actually Happening Today
Don’t expect a massive warmup. In fact, the high for today isn't even going to crack the twenties; we are looking at a high of 19°F and a low of 11°F. It’s a bit of an inverted day where the "high" happened early and we're just sliding into deeper cold.
Here is the breakdown of what the sky is doing:
- Conditions: We are mostly cloudy right now, but that is going to transition into scattered snow showers as the day progresses.
- Precipitation: There is a 25% chance of snow during both the day and night. It’s not a "blizzard" by any means, but it's enough to keep the sidewalks slick and the visibility annoying.
- Wind: The wind is the real story here. It’s going to pick up slightly to 18 mph from the west, so those wind chills are going to stay in the single digits or near zero through the evening.
Why Today Feels Different
We just came off a weird week. If you remember Wednesday, we had that massive snow squall that basically turned the Kennedy Expressway into a parking lot with zero visibility. Compared to that, today’s intermittent snow showers might seem like nothing, but the National Weather Service is still warning about slippery road conditions and "blustery" winds.
The lake is also being a bit dramatic. There’s a Small Craft Advisory in effect until 3 AM Saturday because of those 25-knot winds and 4-foot waves. If you were thinking about a lakeside jog, maybe stick to the gym today.
Basically, the "wintry mix" we've been hearing about is here to stay for a bit. The city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) has already started reminding everyone that warming centers are open today, January 17, for anyone who needs them. That’s usually a good sign that the "danger" level of the cold is shifting from "annoying" to "serious."
Survival Tips for Saturday in the City
If you have to be out, don't be a hero. Wear the layers. The air trapped between a thermal and a sweater is actually what keeps you warm, not just the thickness of your parka.
Keep an eye on the pavement. With temperatures this low, the salt doesn't always melt everything perfectly, especially on side streets in neighborhoods like Logan Square or Bridgeport where the plows might be a bit slower to hit every inch.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the CTA: Snow showers and wind often lead to "signal issues" or track delays. Check the Ventra app before you leave the house.
- Drip the Faucets: If you're in an older Chicago bungalow or a garden unit with poorly insulated pipes, the drop to 11°F tonight is low enough to cause problems.
- Limit Pet Time: If your dog’s paws are touching the salt-covered sidewalk, make sure to wipe them down immediately when you get back inside. That stuff is brutal on their pads.