Illinois Weather in January?

[JenJen2011]

Is there anybody here from Illinois who could tell me how bad the weather is in early January? I assume it's super cold but does it snow a lot around that time? It's going to be like a 12 hour drive from here to Illinois. I'm worried the roads will be terrible. I hate driving in the snow!

[LivingInGrey]

Depends on if your going to be taking I90/I94 through Chicago or not. There's a lot of lake effect snow yet down in that neck of the woods depending on which way the wind is blowing off Lake Michigan that can extend even as far as Wheaton and Naperville.

Best way is to check out these links just before you leave for your trip.

Traffic cameras/congestion maps
http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/driving-cond.htm

The Chicago one is a little more tricky to navigate but here's the link for the map that has the cams in Chicago area
http://www.travelmidwest.com/lmiga/map.jsp?mapname=chicagoArea


Actually..... This map here might be a lot easier to use.

http://www.trafficland.com/city/ORD/?rsid=weatherbug

This link will show you the average and last years snowfall out by O'Hare

http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayNORMS.asp?AirportCode=KORD&StateCode=IL&SafeCityName=Chicago&Units=none&IATA=ORD&lastyear=on&normals=on&records=on

[JenJen2011]

Depends on if your going to be taking I90/I94 through Chicago or not.

Looks like I am according to google's directions.

Based on the average snowfall and last year's snowfall in Chicago, it's not that bad in January.... I think. Thanks for all the helpful links!

[Julie Marie]

Lived in and around Chicago all my life.  January was the biggest snowfall in Chicago history.  Last year we came close to matching that.  But that's pretty rare.  And I've seen some pretty nice days in January too.  There's an old saying, if you don't like Chicago weather, wait five minutes, it will change.

BTW, will you be visiting for transition related reasons?

[SarahM777]

Hello Jen,

As someone else who also did live near Chicago for about 20 + years (And now just a bit North of Chicago) Keep an eye on the weather. About 4 days before leaving for your trip check to see if there may be any storms moving through the area. (How bad it can get is dependent on how far North or South it tracks and how strong it is) Other than that it usually isn't to bad at all.

[JenJen2011]

Lived in and around Chicago all my life.  January was the biggest snowfall in Chicago history.  Last year we came close to matching that.  But that's pretty rare.  And I've seen some pretty nice days in January too.  There's an old saying, if you don't like Chicago weather, wait five minutes, it will change.

Oh nooo! Not good to hear. I might be able to get by before the snow starts falling. I'm going around the 5th or 6th. I just want to get there in one piece. Lol.

BTW, will you be visiting for transition related reasons?

Yup. For ffs.

[JenJen2011]

Hello Jen,

As someone else who also did live near Chicago for about 20 + years (And now just a bit North of Chicago) Keep an eye on the weather. About 4 days before leaving for your trip check to see if there may be any storms moving through the area. (How bad it can get is dependent on how far North or South it tracks and how strong it is) Other than that it usually isn't to bad at all.

Snow storms? Sounds scary! Thanks. I'll be on alert.

[Julie Marie]

Yup. For ffs.

From your pic, it looks like you don't need it.  Since you said you'd be traveling 90/94 I'm guessing you're heading out to see Z.

[JenJen2011]

From your pic, it looks like you don't need it.  Since you said you'd be traveling 90/94 I'm guessing you're heading out to see Z.

Thanks. But pictures can be deceiving. I do need it. I need to do it for me. And yes, you got it right.

[Julie Marie]

I have a vivid memory of being in his office.  (I was pre-everything at the time.)  I accompanied a friend who was there for a consultation.  Another friend of ours had an office just down the hall and was in Z's office checking up on something when we walked in. 

At the reception counter there was some breast implant forms on a stand just to the left.  The friend from down the hall took one and inserted it in my bra.  Apparently my face lit up because the other girls started laughing, knowing full what was going on inside my head.  Then one said, "You should see the expression on your face!"    My fate was sealed!

[JenJen2011]

So, I just checked the 5 day forecast and it looks clear. YAY!!!! Now I'm concerned how heavy the traffic will be Friday morning.

[LivingInGrey]

Yeah, this is very odd for this neck of the woods. We didn't even have snow on X-mas day.

Happy trails

[tekla]

Traffic in the metro area is anywhere from pretty busy to absurd.  Might be good to try to time arrival outside of rush-hours.

[Julie Marie]

Today the high is predicted to be 56.  Pretty typical for January in Chicago.    We're heading downtown in a few minutes.  I just went outside and it's sunny and warm.  (Am I allowed to say that in January?) 

Traffic is usually heavy coming into the city in the morning and then breaks up once out of the city.  In the afternoon it's just the opposite, except on Fridays when everyone is heading into the city for the evening activities.  But that's no guarantee cuz traffic here is like Chicago weather, you never know what to expect.

[Julie Marie]

We just got back.  The traffic going there and back was pretty good.  The worst traffic we encountered was in downtown... on the sidewalks!