After unseasonably mild temperatures Monday, Tuesday, and Tuesday night, the weather forecast indicates a return to generally much colder temperatures Wednesday through the upcoming weekend, including the playoff game between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. The coldest low forecast for the upcoming week is after the game Sunday Night/Monday morning at 8°F.
There is a chance of wind-whipped snow showers/flurries late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with the greatest coverage from northeast Illinois and east central IL and points eastward into northwest Indiana. Snow flurries will probably begin about 1:00 a.m. Wednesday, and snow showers will probably begin about 3:00 a.m. Wednesday. Less than one-half inch accumulation by noon Wednesday.
Temperatures will begin to drop steadily at 3:00 p.m. (50°F) to 40°F at midnight and 27°F at 7:00 a.m. Then the afternoon high for Wednesday will only be 23°F.
Wind-blown accumulating lake effect snow is expected downwind of Lake Michigan Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. The highest amounts are expected to occur east of Porter County, Indiana, but hazardous travel appears likely in particularly northeast Porter County due to a combination of light to moderate lake effect snow and strong northwesterly winds.
Another round of accumulating wind-driven snow appears likely Thursday night into Friday. An unsettled weather pattern then continues through the weekend and into next week with periods of gusty winds and occasional chances for light snow/flurries.
Weather Radar at 2:25 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2026 in northeast Illinois was clear.
See also Arlingtoncardinal.com/clouds
O’HARE FORECAST …
Tuesday Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tuesday Night: Isolated snow showers before 3am, then scattered flurries with isolated snow showers between 3am and 4am, then scattered snow showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Wednesday: Scattered snow showers before 9am, then scattered flurries with isolated snow showers between 9am and noon, then scattered flurries after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 22 by 4pm. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. Northwest wind around 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Thursday Night: Snow, mainly after midnight. Low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: Snow likely before noon, then snow showers likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.
Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20.
Saturday Night: A chance of snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 18.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8.
M.L.King Day (Monday): Partly sunny, with a high near 18.
LAKE TEMPS …
Southern Lake Michigan Water Temperatures
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
901 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026
Lake Michigan Water Temperatures…
Chicago Shore………..34.
Chicago Crib…………40.
Michigan City………..36.
&&
M is for missing data that is normally available. Chicago Shore, Chicago Crib, and Michigan City are read every day of the year.
Measured at a depth of 60 ft for Chicago Crib and 30 ft for Michigan City. May not represent surface temperature.
For Lake Michigan water levels, please see: water.usace.army.mil/office/lre/forecast/weekly
january.chicagoweatherstation.com
Chicago Weather Forecast for your MAC/PC/TABLET includes surrounding suburbs.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
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