If you woke up in Cleveland this morning and thought the 17°F on your phone screen looked chilly, honestly, you haven't seen anything yet. Sunday, January 18, 2026, is basically the "calm before the storm"—though when the "calm" involves a feels-like temperature of 4°F, that word feels a bit like a cruel joke.
Right now, the city is sitting under a "mostly sunny" sky, but don't let those rays fool you. The southwest wind is pushing through at 11 mph, making it feel significantly sharper than the actual air temperature suggests. We’re looking at a high of 19°F for the day. That’s it. That’s the peak.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cleveland Weather in January
A lot of folks assume that if it's sunny in the morning, the afternoon will stay clear. Not in Northeast Ohio. The forecast for the rest of Sunday shows clouds moving in quickly. By tonight, those clouds are going to start dropping snow. We’re looking at a 25% chance of snow showers after dark, with the temperature dipping down to a low of 12°F.
It’s the kind of day where you’ve gotta layer up just to take the dog out.
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The Breakdown: Today's Specifics
- Current Temp: 17°F
- Real Feel: 4°F (thanks to that 11 mph wind)
- High Today: 19°F
- Tonight's Low: 12°F
- Snow Chance: 5% during the day, jumping to 25% tonight
The National Weather Service has already been squawking about what's coming next. This Sunday is really just a stepping stone toward some seriously dangerous territory. An Arctic air mass is timing its arrival perfectly with the end of the weekend.
Why Sunday Still Matters for Your Monday Plans
MLK Day is tomorrow, and if you’re planning on being out and about, today is your preparation window. While Sunday is "cloudy" with some light snow tonight, Monday is when the real "Weather Impact Alert" kicks in. We’re talking about wind chills that could plummet to 10 or 20 degrees below zero by Monday night.
If you need to hit the grocery store or salt the driveway, do it now. Seriously.
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Living with the Lake Effect
Clevelanders are used to the "clipper systems" that roll through here, but this one is dragging some particularly nasty air behind it. Historically, January 29th is actually the coldest day of the year for us, but 2026 is trying to give that record a run for its money a week early. Humidity is sitting at 68% today, which adds that damp, bone-chilling quality to the air that locals know all too well.
I was looking at the historical data from Cleveland-Hopkins earlier—usually, we’d expect a high closer to 34°F this time of year. Being stuck at 19°F means we are nearly 15 degrees below the "normal" average. It’s a reminder that "average" is just a suggestion when Lake Erie is involved.
Survival Steps for the Next 24 Hours
Kinda feels like we're all just waiting for the hammer to drop, right? Since the sun is out for a bit longer this morning (it’ll set around 5:21 PM), use the visibility while you have it.
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- Check the tire pressure. Cold air makes that "low tire" light pop up like clockwork.
- Top off the bird feeders. The local wildlife is going to have a rough time starting tonight.
- Grab the heavy coat. If you’re heading to a movie for National Popcorn Day (Cinemark is doing that $5 bucket deal today and tomorrow), don't trust the walk from the parking lot.
Basically, enjoy the "warmth" of 19°F while it lasts. By Tuesday morning, we’ll be looking back at today like it was a tropical vacation. Stay warm out there, Cleveland.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the lake-effect bands starting around 8 PM tonight. If you have errands to run, complete them before sunset to avoid the initial dusting of snow showers that will make bridges and overpasses slick as the temperature drops toward 12°F.