You know that feeling when you look out the window in Lake County and see a gorgeous patch of blue sky, but your phone is screaming about a 65% chance of snow? Welcome to winter in the 60061. Honestly, weather Vernon Hills IL has a personality of its own, mostly because we're just far enough from Lake Michigan to miss the constant "lake effect" dump but close enough to feel that biting dampness in the air.
Right now, things are looking pretty typical for mid-January. If you're heading out to Mellody Farm or trying to squeeze in a walk at Century Park, you've gotta dress for the "feels like" temp, not the number on the thermostat.
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The Real Deal Right Now
As of Friday afternoon, January 16, 2026, the temperature in Vernon Hills is sitting at 36°F. Not terrible on paper, right? But with a 11 mph wind coming in from the west, it actually feels like 28°F.
Basically, it’s that "partly sunny" kind of day where the sun is teasing you but the air is still sharp. Humidity is hovering around 73%, which is high enough to make that cold really stick to your bones.
What to Expect for the Rest of Today
If you have plans tonight, keep an eye on the sky. While it's 36°F now, we’re looking at a high of 37°F and a low of 18°F later tonight. The big story is the precipitation.
- Daytime: There is a 65% chance of snow during the day.
- Winds: Picking up a bit, gusting around 15 mph from the southwest.
- Tonight: The chance of snow drops to 20%, and it’ll be mostly partly cloudy.
It’s one of those classic Vernon Hills transitions where the slush on the roads will likely freeze solid once that sun goes down and we hit that 18-degree mark. If you’re driving down Milwaukee Avenue later, watch out for those black ice patches.
The Lake County Climate Reality
Living here means accepting that our weather is a bit of a gamble. Because we sit in that sweet spot between the Des Plaines River and the lake, we get some weird micro-climates.
Historically, January is our cloudiest month—about 56% of the time, it's just grey. If you feel like you haven't seen the sun in a week, you're not imagining it. We usually average a high of 31°F and a low of 17°F this time of year, so today's 37-degree peak is actually a tiny bit of a "warm" spell, believe it or not.
A Quick Peek at the Averages
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 17°F |
| April | 59°F | 40°F |
| July | 83°F | 65°F |
| October | 61°F | 43°F |
July 19 is statistically the hottest day of the year here, while January 22—just a few days away—is usually the absolute coldest. We're currently right in the thick of the "deep freeze" season.
How to Survive the Vernon Hills Winter
Look, we all know the drill. Layers are everything. But specifically for the weather Vernon Hills IL throws at us, you need a windbreaker layer. That 15 mph southwest wind coming across the open spaces near the corporate parks can be brutal.
Honestly, the best thing you can do is check the hourly forecast before you head out to the Hawthorn Mall area. Since the chance of snow today is so high (65%), but the "current" precipitation is only at 2%, that snow is likely coming in a concentrated burst later this afternoon.
Your Winter Action Plan
- Check the wind chill: Always look at the "feels like" temperature. If it's 28°F like it is right now, your exposed skin will start to feel it in about 30 minutes.
- Salt your walkways now: With the temp dropping to 18°F tonight, anything that melts this afternoon is going to be a skating rink by 8:00 PM.
- Monitor the wind: Southwest winds at 15 mph are enough to drift light snow across the east-west roads.
Keep your scraper in the car and maybe grab an extra coffee. It's just another Friday in Lake County.