Honestly, if you've lived in the Chicago suburbs long enough, you know the drill. You check the app, see a "mostly cloudy" icon, and figure you’re safe to run to the Woodfield Mall or hit the Jewel-Osco on Roselle Road without a parka. Then you step outside.
Right now in Hoffman Estates, it is 7°F. But that is a lie. Because of a 10 mph wind coming straight out of the west, it actually feels like -8°F. That is a massive difference when you’re scraping ice off a windshield.
The weather hoffman estates il hourly report for today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, is basically a classic Illinois winter rollercoaster. We are looking at a high of 17°F and a low that dips down to -1°F tonight.
The Reality of the Hoffman Estates Hourly Forecast
Most people just look at the high and low. Big mistake. In a place like Hoffman Estates, the "micro-climates" created by the open spaces around the Arthur L. Janura Preserve can make the wind bite harder than the official O'Hare readings suggest.
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Here is the breakdown of what is actually happening today:
- Morning: Bitter cold with a humidity of 81%. This is that "wet cold" that gets into your bones.
- Afternoon: We might hit that high of 17°F, but keep an eye on the sky. There is a 25% chance of snow showers.
- Evening/Night: The temperature drops back into the single digits. Expect light snow to move in as the wind shifts slightly to the southwest at 11 mph.
Why January 2026 is Acting So Weird
If you feel like this month has been a fever dream, you aren't wrong. Just about ten days ago, on January 8th, the entire Chicago metro area—including Hoffman Estates—was dealing with rare flash flooding. We saw record-breaking warmth with temperatures hitting 60°F.
Think about that. We went from 60 degrees and pouring rain to -8 degree wind chills in less than two weeks. That kind of swing is exactly why looking at the weather hoffman estates il hourly is the only way to survive a commute on I-90 without being caught off guard.
Survival Tips for the Next 24 Hours
Kinda feels like common sense, but people still forget:
- Check the "Feels Like" specifically. If you're walking the dog near the Poplar Creek Trail, that -8°F is the number that matters, not the 7°F on the thermometer.
- Snow is coming, but it's light. We aren't looking at a blizzard today. The chance of precipitation is holding steady at 25%. It's enough to make the roads slick, especially near the intersections of Golf and Higgins Roads, but it's not a "stockpile bread and milk" event.
- Humidity is high. At 81%, the air is heavy. This usually means frost will build up quickly on your windows tonight as the temp hits that -1°F mark.
Looking Ahead to Monday
If you think today is chilly, Monday is going to be a reality check. The forecast is calling for a high of only 7°F and a low of 2°F. Basically, the "high" tomorrow is the "current" temperature right now.
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Most local experts, including the folks monitoring the NWS Chicago stations, noted that this January is actually trending about 2 degrees below average despite that weird warm spike we had earlier in the month. We are currently in the thick of the "Cold Season," which statistically lasts until early March in this part of Illinois.
Next Steps for Hoffman Estates Residents:
- Pre-treat your walkways: Since we have light snow (25% chance) and high humidity, surfaces will glaze over fast tonight.
- Car Check: If your battery is more than three years old, a -1°F night is exactly when it will decide to give up. Give it a look before the Monday morning rush.
- Keep an eye on the wind: A 10-11 mph wind doesn't sound like much, but in an open suburb like ours, it’s enough to drop the perceived temperature by 15 degrees.