Honestly, if you've lived in Central Illinois for more than five minutes, you know the sky here has a bit of a mood disorder. One day you're thinking about a light windbreaker, and the next, you’re wondering if your eyelashes are going to freeze together. Right now, looking at the Peoria IL weather 10 day outlook, we are definitely leaning toward the "freeze together" end of the spectrum.
The Immediate Mess: Rain, Snow, and Slush
Today, Friday, January 16, 2026, is basically a "choose your own adventure" of precipitation. We are sitting at a current temperature of 40°F, but don't let that fool you. With west winds hitting 14 mph, the "feels like" temperature is a much more honest 32°F. We’ve got a 20% chance of a rain-snow mix through the day, with a high of 41°F and a low that's going to crater to 17°F tonight.
It’s that classic Peoria dampness. You know the one. It gets into your bones.
Saturday isn't looking much friendlier. We’re expecting snow showers with a high of only 18°F. That is a massive 23-degree drop in the high temperature from one day to the next. Welcome to the Midwest, I guess.
The Big Chill: 10-Day Breakdown
If you're planning your week, here is the raw data you need to survive.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Light snow is likely. High of 22°F, low of 4°F. The southwest wind will be around 13 mph, so it’s going to feel significantly colder than the thermometer says.
- Monday, Jan 19: This is the day to stay inside if you can. It’ll be sunny, but the high is only 12°F with a low of 3°F. Northwest winds at 15 mph will make this feel brutal.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: A slight "warm-up" to 33°F under cloudy skies.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: More clouds, high of 34°F, with a 25% chance of snow during the day.
- Thursday, Jan 22: Partly sunny but colder again. High 25°F, low 18°F.
The rest of the week stays pretty consistent with highs in the 30s, ending with another potential dip toward the end of next weekend. Sunday, January 25, is currently showing a low of -2°F. Yes, negative.
What Most People Get Wrong About Peoria Winters
People think it's just the cold. It isn't. It's the cloud cover.
In January, Peoria is overcast or mostly cloudy about 55% of the time. According to historical data from the National Weather Service, January is statistically our coldest month, with an average low of 17.6°F. But it's also a "dry" cold compared to the spring months, even if it doesn't feel like it when you're scraping ice off your windshield at 7:00 AM at the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport.
We aren't seeing record-breaking stuff yet—the all-time record low for January in Peoria is a terrifying -27°F—but a low of -2°F next Sunday is nothing to sneeze at.
Nuance and Reality
Weather models this far out are always a bit finicky. While the 10-day trend is clearly pointing toward a deep freeze, the specific precipitation chances (like that 25% on Wednesday) can shift. The humidity is currently around 59%, which is actually a bit lower than the January average of 73.9%. This means we might avoid the heavy, wet "heart-attack" snow for a few days, favoring the lighter, wind-blown variety instead.
Actionable Advice for the Next 10 Days
- The Layering Rule: Don't just wear one big coat. Wear a base layer that wicks moisture. If you sweat while shoveling and that moisture stays against your skin in 12-degree weather, you're in trouble.
- Car Prep: With that -2°F low coming next Sunday, check your battery now. Cold kills batteries that are already on their last legs.
- Humidity Control: Since the outdoor air is getting drier (only 38% humidity by next Sunday), your indoor air is going to feel like a desert. Fire up the humidifier now to avoid the scratchy throat and static shocks.
- Pet Safety: If it's too cold for you, it’s too cold for them. Once we hit those single-digit lows on Monday and next Sunday, keep the walks extremely short.
Keep an eye on the sky and maybe keep an extra scraper in the passenger seat. You're going to need it.