Honestly, if you’re looking out your window in the Loop right now and wondering why your face feels like it’s being poked by a thousand tiny needles, you aren't alone. It is cold. Like, "don't-even-think-about-forgetting-your-gloves" cold.
As of Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, the temperature in Chicago is sitting at a crisp 13°F. But that number is a total lie. Because of a 13 mph wind coming straight out of the southwest, the "feels like" temperature is actually -2°F.
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Welcome to a classic Chicago January.
People always talk about the "Windy City" moniker being about politics, but on days like today, it’s definitely about the lake and that biting breeze. We're currently under heavy cloud cover, and while it might look like a solid wall of gray, there's only a 10% chance of seeing actual flakes right this second.
Why Current Weather in Chicago Ill feels so much worse today
You’ve probably noticed the air feels particularly "thin" today. That’s the humidity talking. At 68%, it’s just damp enough to let the cold soak into your coat rather than just bouncing off it.
The Breakdown of Today's Forecast
If you’re planning on heading out for a late brunch or hitting the museums, here is the reality of what you're facing for the rest of Sunday:
- High Temperature: We might hit 20°F if we're lucky.
- The Low: It’s dropping to 7°F tonight.
- Wind Factor: Expect sustained southwest winds at 14 mph, which means those sub-zero wind chills aren't going anywhere.
- Snow Outlook: The chance of snow showers jumps to 20% during the day and hits 25% tonight. Basically, it’s going to be "mood snow"—enough to look pretty under the streetlights, but probably not enough to bury your car.
Earlier this week, things were actually a bit weirder. Remember that bizarre flash flooding on January 8th? We saw a record-breaking 1.92 inches of rain at O’Hare, which smashed a record from 1935. We went from low 60s at the start of the month to this deep freeze. That’s the La Niña transition for you.
The La Niña Curveball
We’ve been hearing for months that La Niña was going to dominate our winter. It did, initially. Chicago actually had its snowiest start to winter in 40 years back in November and December. But here’s the thing most people miss: La Niña is currently weakening.
The Climate Prediction Center (those folks at NOAA who stare at Pacific water temperatures all day) says there is a 75% chance we are shifting into "ENSO-neutral" conditions right now.
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What does that mean for your heating bill?
Basically, it means the weather is going to be erratic. We’re oscillating between these arctic blasts—like the one we're in today—and weirdly mild spikes. This morning’s 13°F is actually part of a much larger cold weather advisory hitting most of Illinois and Missouri. In fact, if you're traveling toward St. Louis, it's even worse down there with wind chills hitting 15 below.
Staying Safe in the "Hawk"
Chicagoans call the winter wind "The Hawk." When it hunts, you hide.
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) has already put out the call: if you don’t have to be outside, don’t. If you do, the Garfield Center at 10 S. Kedzie is open as a warming center until 5:00 PM today.
Most people make the mistake of wearing one giant, heavy parka. That’s amateur hour. You need layers. A base layer to wick sweat (yes, you sweat even when it’s 13 degrees), a middle insulating layer, and a shell to block that 14 mph wind.
Also, keep an eye on your pipes. With the low hitting 7°F tonight, this is the kind of weather where a kitchen sink on an exterior wall decides to give up the ghost. A slow drip can save you a $500 plumber visit tomorrow morning.
What’s coming next?
The rest of the week looks like a slow climb out of the basement. While MLK Day tomorrow stays blustery and cold with a high around 22°F, we might actually see the mid-40s by Wednesday.
That’s a 30-degree swing in 72 hours.
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It's enough to give anyone a sinus headache. But that is the trade-off for living in one of the best cities in the world. You get the world-class food, the lakefront views, and the occasional feeling that your eyelashes are freezing together.
Actionable Next Steps for Today:
- Check your flight status: If you're heading to O'Hare or Midway, check your airline app now. We’re still seeing some ripple effects from the 6.9-inch snow dump on the 17th.
- Winterize your car: If you haven't checked your tire pressure since October, do it today. Cold air makes the pressure drop, and the last thing you want is a "low tire" light when it's -2°F outside.
- Download the OEMC App: It’s the fastest way to get local alerts for the Chicago area without having to dig through Twitter.
- Check on your neighbors: If you have elderly neighbors on your block, a quick text or a knock to make sure their heat is holding up goes a long way.
Keep those layers on, Chicago. We’ll get to the lakefront weather eventually.