Living in the 46324 zip code means developing a specific kind of mental toughness. Honestly, if you’ve spent a winter here, you know that the weather Hammond in 46324 isn't just a daily report—it’s a lifestyle choice. One minute you're scraping a thin glaze of ice off your windshield in the Woodmar neighborhood, and the next, a rogue lake-effect band turns your driveway into a miniature mountain range.
It’s January 16, 2026, and the air currently feels like a slap in the face.
Right now, the thermometer reads 26°F, but with a 13 mph wind kicking up from the south, it actually feels like 15°F. That’s the classic Region trick. The numbers look manageable, but the dampness from Lake Michigan just north of us makes the cold sink straight into your bones.
The Lake Michigan Factor
Most people think "weather" is just what's happening in the sky, but in Hammond, it's what's happening on the water. We are stuck in this weird transition zone.
Since we're right on the edge of the lake, we get hit by "lake-enhanced" systems that people just twenty miles south in Lowell completely miss. Yesterday, January 15, we saw a high of 26°F and a low of 14°F. Today is looking a bit "warmer" with a projected high of 37°F, but don't let that fool you. There is a 59% chance of snow during the day.
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Basically, it's going to be a slushy, grey mess.
Why 46324 Is a Weather Anomaly
The 46324 area, encompassing much of South Hammond and parts of Woodmar, often deals with the "urban heat island" effect mixed with lake breezes. It’s a messy combo. Because of the industrial legacy and the dense grid of homes, the local temperature can actually stay about 5 to 7 degrees warmer than the rural fields further out in Lake County.
You’ll notice this most in the summer, where "feels like" temperatures can easily crest 101°F. But in the winter? It just means the snow turns to that heavy, heart-attack-inducing slush faster than it does elsewhere.
What the Rest of the Week Looks Like
If you were hoping for a break, I’ve got some bad news. The forecast for the next few days is a steady descent into the freezer.
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- Saturday, Jan 17: High of 19°F, low of 12°F. Expect snow showers.
- Sunday, Jan 18: High of 19°F, but the overnight low drops to a brutal 3°F.
- Monday, Jan 19: This is the real test. The high is only 8°F, and it's going to be windy at 18 mph.
That Monday low of 2°F is no joke. If you haven't dripped your faucets or checked your furnace filter yet, now is the time.
Dealing with the Grey
In Hammond, January is historically the cloudiest month of the year. We’re talking overcast or mostly cloudy skies about 59% of the time. It’s basically a month-long ceiling of slate grey.
While the summer brings us those gorgeous August days where it's clear 68% of the time, right now we’re in the thick of the "Great Gloom." Humidity is sitting at a high 77% right now, which is typical for our winters. High humidity in the cold makes the air feel "thicker" and much more piercing than a dry cold in the plains.
Survival Tips for 46324 Residents
Living here requires more than just a heavy coat. You need a strategy.
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First, ignore the "high" temperature and always look at the wind chill. A 37°F day with a 15 mph wind is arguably more miserable than a still 20°F day because of how it saps your body heat.
Second, watch the lake. If the wind shifts to the north or northeast, like it's expected to do later next week (Saturday, Jan 24), that's when the lake-effect snow machine starts cranking. The National Weather Service often tracks these bands specifically as they move over Gary and Hammond, and they can drop three inches of snow in an hour while it's perfectly sunny three miles away.
Next Steps for Today:
Given the 59% snow chance and the fact that temperatures will plummet to 12°F by tomorrow night, you should clear any slush from your walkways before 5:00 PM today. Once that 37-degree high drops tonight, anything wet on the ground is going to turn into a sheet of black ice. Check your tire pressure too; these 20-degree swings cause PSI to drop faster than you'd think.