January is one of the cooler months of the year in Chicago Heights, with average highs near -0.9°C and lows around -8.6°C (mean -4.7°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 50 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Chicago Heights. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Chicago Heights was 2006 — when the month averaged 1.6°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -12.4°C. Typical January days reach -0.9°C with nights near -8.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Chicago Heights, averaging 50 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2005 with 121 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 6 mm.
Relative humidity in Chicago Heights during January averages 88%. The most humid January was 1982 at 95%, and the least humid was 2003 at 76%.
January receives about 1.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Chicago Heights. The sunniest January was 2025 at 2.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2017, 2020 and 2023 at 1.3.
Average wind speed in Chicago Heights during January is 4.2 m/s. The windiest January was 2014 at 5.2 m/s, while the calmest was 1998 at 3.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -6.8°C | -4.8°C | -3.8°C | -4.7°C | -3.3°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg High | -2.5°C | -0.9°C | 0.0°C | -0.8°C | 0.2°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Low | -11.0°C | -8.8°C | -7.5°C | -8.5°C | -6.8°C | +4.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 33 mm | 63 mm | 54 mm | 43 mm | 56 mm | +24 mm |
January temperatures in Chicago Heights have risen by about 4.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -35.1°C (1982) to a record high of 16.7°C (1997).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 50 mm, with a wettest year of 121 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.5°C per decade while lows rose 0.8°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Chicago Heights
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Chicago Heights. That said, January — with days averaging -0.9°C and nights around -8.6°C (mean -4.7°C) and moderate rainfall (50 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -1.5°C | -5.5°C | -9.5°C | 7.1°C | -20.2°C | 26 mm | 77% | 4.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2024 | -1.2°C | -4.3°C | -7.3°C | 5.9°C | -25.7°C | 101 mm | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2023 | 2.9°C | -0.3°C | -3.5°C | 11.8°C | -14.6°C | 47 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | -2.0°C | -6.3°C | -10.7°C | 4.5°C | -20.3°C | 18 mm | 84% | 4.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2021 | 1.0°C | -2.3°C | -5.5°C | 5.6°C | -11.8°C | 53 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 2.1°C | -1.2°C | -4.4°C | 10.5°C | -15.7°C | 93 mm | 88% | 3.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2019 | -2.1°C | -5.6°C | -9.2°C | 11.9°C | -31.3°C | 40 mm | 87% | 4.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2018 | -0.4°C | -4.5°C | -8.5°C | 13.7°C | -21.9°C | 28 mm | 85% | 4.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2017 | 1.4°C | -1.9°C | -5.2°C | 14.5°C | -18.1°C | 73 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2016 | -0.5°C | -4.6°C | -8.8°C | 8.8°C | -18.5°C | 20 mm | 88% | 4.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2015 | -1.2°C | -5.2°C | -9.2°C | 5.4°C | -22.9°C | 32 mm | 86% | 3.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2014 | -4.5°C | -9.3°C | -14.1°C | 7.3°C | -27.4°C | 51 mm | 85% | 5.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2013 | 1.1°C | -3.0°C | -7.2°C | 15.1°C | -17.8°C | 78 mm | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2012 | 2.4°C | -1.4°C | -5.2°C | 11.5°C | -13.9°C | 50 mm | 85% | 4.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2011 | -2.5°C | -5.9°C | -9.3°C | 2.4°C | -20.3°C | 29 mm | 84% | 3.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | -2.2°C | -5.4°C | -8.6°C | 7.3°C | -18.4°C | 27 mm | 90% | 4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2009 | -3.9°C | -8.1°C | -12.3°C | 2.3°C | -25.8°C | 25 mm | 89% | 4.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2008 | 0.3°C | -4.1°C | -8.4°C | 16.4°C | -18.7°C | 105 mm | 87% | 5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2007 | 1.0°C | -2.6°C | -6.2°C | 11.5°C | -16.1°C | 67 mm | 89% | 4.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2006 🔥 | 5.1°C | 1.6°C | -1.9°C | 11.9°C | -5.9°C | 62 mm | 86% | 4.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2005 🌧️ | -0.4°C | -3.9°C | -7.4°C | 11.8°C | -15.8°C | 121 mm | 88% | 4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | -2.4°C | -6.0°C | -9.7°C | 13.7°C | -19.9°C | 20 mm | 84% | 4.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2003 | -2.4°C | -5.9°C | -9.4°C | 8.7°C | -17.4°C | 16 mm | 76% | 4.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2002 | 3.2°C | -0.4°C | -4.1°C | 12.7°C | -13.2°C | 61 mm | 86% | 4.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2001 | -0.6°C | -4.6°C | -8.6°C | 3.7°C | -16.1°C | 29 mm | 93% | 3.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2000 | -0.2°C | -3.7°C | -7.3°C | 14.0°C | -17.9°C | 30 mm | 83% | 4.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1999 | -1.7°C | -5.9°C | -10.2°C | 11.0°C | -26.6°C | 91 mm | 93% | 4.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1998 | 1.5°C | -2.2°C | -5.8°C | 11.7°C | -18.4°C | 90 mm | 92% | 3.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1997 | -2.5°C | -6.5°C | -10.5°C | 16.7°C | -23.8°C | 49 mm | 89% | 4.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1996 | -1.0°C | -5.1°C | -9.1°C | 14.2°C | -22.1°C | 37 mm | 85% | 4.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1995 | -1.3°C | -4.5°C | -7.8°C | 5.7°C | -16.0°C | 75 mm | 89% | 4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 | -5.5°C | -9.2°C | -12.9°C | 2.4°C | -29.2°C | 46 mm | 91% | 4.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1993 | -0.4°C | -4.5°C | -8.6°C | 7.2°C | -16.7°C | 92 mm | 90% | 4.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1992 | 0.5°C | -3.0°C | -6.4°C | 5.2°C | -22.2°C | 65 mm | 90% | 4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1991 | -3.0°C | -7.4°C | -11.9°C | 1.5°C | -22.8°C | 36 mm | 93% | 4.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1990 | 4.2°C | -0.1°C | -4.4°C | 12.5°C | -12.2°C | 54 mm | 83% | 4.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1989 | 2.7°C | -1.7°C | -6.1°C | 14.7°C | -17.8°C | 28 mm | 88% | 4.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1988 | -4.1°C | -8.7°C | -13.2°C | 11.6°C | -28.5°C | 47 mm | 93% | 4.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1987 | -0.9°C | -4.2°C | -7.6°C | 5.7°C | -21.9°C | 47 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1986 | -1.2°C | -5.3°C | -9.3°C | 9.5°C | -20.4°C | 11 mm | 89% | 4.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1985 | -6.1°C | -11.0°C | -15.8°C | 0.7°C | -33.6°C | 32 mm | 95% | 4.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1984 | -4.9°C | -9.5°C | -14.0°C | 1.7°C | -31.9°C | 25 mm | 95% | 3.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1983 | 0.5°C | -2.6°C | -5.7°C | 4.3°C | -10.7°C | 22 mm | 87% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | -6.8°C | -12.4°C | -17.9°C | 1.4°C | -35.1°C | 77 mm | 95% | 4.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -2.0°C | -5.9°C | -9.8°C | 8.0°C | -18.9°C | 6 mm | 85% | 3.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -0.9°C with lows near -8.6°C (mean -4.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 50 mm of rainfall in Chicago Heights, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 121 mm in 2005.
The hottest January reached 16.7°C in 1997. The coldest dipped to -35.1°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 4.6°C. Daytime highs moved from -3.9°C to -0.2°C and overnight lows from -12.6°C to -7.3°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Chicago Heights and one of the drier months, so plan for around -0.9°C daytime highs and -8.6°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Chicago Heights, averaging -4.7°C.
For January in Chicago Heights, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -0.9°C and lows of -8.6°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 4.2 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 5.2 m/s (2014).
The wettest January on record was 2005 with 121 mm. On average, January sees 50 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Chicago Heights behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
