Look, I'll be honest with you. If you were planning on a casual stroll through Lake Park today, you might want to rethink that life choice. Des Plaines weather today is basically a masterclass in why January in Illinois is a test of human endurance.
We aren't just talking "chilly." We are talking about that specific kind of Chicago-suburban cold that finds the one gap in your scarf and settles there for the afternoon.
The Numbers You Actually Care About
Right now, the thermometer in Des Plaines is sitting at a crisp 17°F. That sounds manageable until you look at the wind. We've got a 12 mph breeze coming out of the west, which might not sound like much, but it's enough to drag that feels-like temperature down to a brutal 4°F.
Basically, your skin is going to register this as "immediate regret."
The humidity is hovering around 72%, which gives the air that heavy, bone-chilling quality. It's not a dry cold; it's the kind of cold that feels damp and invasive.
What’s Falling From the Sky?
If you're looking out the window right now, it's partly cloudy, but don't let those patches of sky fool you. The forecast for the rest of Saturday, January 17, 2026, is calling for snow showers.
Here is the breakdown of what to expect:
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- Daytime: High of 18°F. Expect scattered snow showers with a 25% chance of precipitation.
- The Wind: It’s picking up. We’re looking at 15 mph gusts from the west.
- Tonight: The clouds are moving in for good. The low will drop to 8°F, and that 25% chance of snow hangs around through the night.
Honestly, it’s a "messy" forecast. It’s not a full-blown blizzard that shuts down the schools, but it's enough to make the roads slick and your car windows a pain to scrape.
Living With the Des Plaines Deep Freeze
According to data from the National Weather Service, we are currently stuck in a pattern of "hazardous weather outlooks" for the region. The wind chill values are the real story here. When you’re dealing with single-digit wind chills, frostbite isn’t just a theoretical concept—it’s a genuine risk if you’re out for more than thirty minutes without the right gear.
If you have to head out toward O'Hare or jump on the I-294, give yourself an extra ten minutes. Even a dusting of snow in these temperatures doesn't melt; it just gets packed down into ice by the tires of everyone else trying to get their Saturday errands done.
Practical Steps for the Next 24 Hours
You’ve got a few things to do if you want to survive this weekend without losing your mind.
First, check your tire pressure. These sudden drops into the teens usually trigger that annoying "low pressure" light on your dashboard. Second, if you're walking the dog, keep it short. Their paws feel that 4°F wind chill just as much as your face does.
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Finally, keep an eye on the local radar. That 25% chance of snow is the sneaky kind that can dump a quick half-inch and disappear, leaving the side streets near Miner Street a little more treacherous than they look. Stay warm, keep the coffee pot on, and maybe just wait for Sunday to do the grocery run.