You’ve felt it. That specific Chicago bite where the air doesn’t just hit you—it kind of insults you. If you stepped outside today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, you probably realized the "warmth" of yesterday's snowstorm is long gone.
Honestly, the city is basically a giant walk-in freezer right now.
We are looking at a high of 21°F today. That sounds almost manageable until you see the low of 9°F. But here is the thing: Chicago temperatures are a lie. The real story is the wind. With a 10 mph breeze coming off the southwest, it’s going to feel significantly sharper than the thermometer suggests.
What is the temperature today in chicago illinois and why it feels worse
The mercury says 21°F, but your face says something else entirely. We’re coming off a massive system that dropped nearly 7 inches of snow on Saturday, making it the heaviest single-day snowfall we’ve seen in over a decade. O'Hare and Midway were basically ghost towns yesterday. Today, the cleanup begins, but the cold is settling in for the long haul.
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It’s currently 16°F as we sit in the nighttime hours of this Sunday morning. The feels-like temperature is a brutal 3°F. That’s a 13-degree "tax" paid to the wind gods.
- Current Temperature: 16°F
- Wind: 12 mph from the West
- Humidity: 77%
- Condition: Cloudy with a 14% chance of snow
If you’re heading out to Soldier Field for the Rams-Bears game, you’re looking at peak "Bear Weather." Expect it to be around 20°F at kickoff with wind chills hovering near zero. Davante Adams and the Rams might be used to the California sun, but they're about to get a crash course in Lake Michigan physics.
The Hour-by-Hour Breakdown
Don't expect a lot of variety today. The sky is staying gray.
The UV index is sitting at a 1, which basically means the sun is a myth. We have a 25% chance of snow showers both during the day and tonight. It’s not the "blizzard" we saw yesterday, but more like those annoying, horizontal flurries that find the gap between your scarf and your chin.
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Humidity is sticking around 66%. That "damp cold" is a real thing here; it gets into your bones in a way that a dry mountain cold just doesn't.
Beyond the Thermometer: Surviving the 2026 Chill
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) has already started sounding the alarms. They aren't playing around. With wind chills dipping into the negatives as we head toward Monday, the city has opened warming centers like the Garfield Center on Kedzie.
The lakefront is particularly nasty. If you're thinking of a "refreshing" walk by the water, maybe don't. The wind gusts are projected to stay steady, and with the southwest flow, that cold air is just sweeping across the flat Illinois plains and hitting the city like a freight train.
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Monday, January 19, is actually going to be even more intense. We’re looking at a high of only 9°F and a low of 6°F. If you think today is cold, tomorrow is going to feel like a personal attack.
What to Actually Do Now
Look, knowing what is the temperature today in chicago illinois is only half the battle. You have to actually live in it.
- Check your pipes. When the low hits 9°F, those exterior-wall pipes start getting cranky. Open the cabinets under your sinks.
- Download the Notify Chicago app. Between the airport ground stops and the "snow showers" predicted for tonight, transit is a mess.
- Layer like a pro. Forget the heavy fashion coat. You need a base layer that wicks moisture because if you sweat while shoveling that 6.9 inches of snow and then stand still, you’re going to freeze.
- Pet safety. If it’s 3°F (the feels-like temp), it’s too cold for the dog’s paws. Keep the walks short.
The city is currently in a "cloudy" state, but those snow showers are lurking. Keep an eye on the southwest horizon. This isn't the day for light jackets or "testing" the heater. It’s a day for heavy boots and staying inside if you can help it.