Bitter Cold Weather Alert: What to Expect in the Chicago Area
The bitter cold is on its way, so make sure to bundle up before heading out the door on Monday morning.
Extreme Cold Expected
The Chicago area is expected to wake up to sub-zero wind chills and extremely chilly temperatures as a cold front moves through. Temperatures will drop into the teens, creating wind chill values that could reach as low as -4 degrees, according to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack.
Forecast for the Week
Sunny skies will prevail through the morning hours before clouds start drifting toward the region in the afternoon. High temperatures will struggle to reach 20 degrees in the daytime hours as wind chills sit around zero degrees.
Flurries and Lake-Effect Snow
A few flurries will be possible when Tuesday rolls around, and they’ll come along with continued, brutal cold. Some lake-effect flurries are possible, as is accumulation for areas south of Interstate 80.
Bitterly Cold Temperatures
Lows in the single digits combined with persistent northwesterly winds will cause wind chill values below zero early on, meteorologists said. Wind chill values will be below zero on Wednesday, though that’ll be the last dose of the extreme cold for a bit. Temperatures will begin to moderate from there, topping out around the 20-degree mark in the daytime hours.
Warmer Conditions Ahead
Things will go up from there – at least for a little while. Warmer conditions are expected on Thursday and Friday, pushing temperatures near the 40-degree mark.
Weekend Outlook
Over the weekend, a chance of a rain and snow mix will slide its way in, though most of the system will stay to the south.
The Harsh Cold Returns
Then, the harsh cold returns. By Monday, high temperatures might not make it out of the single digits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the expected temperature range for the week?
A: Temperatures will range from the teens to near 40 degrees.
Q: What’s the expected wind chill?
A: Wind chill values will be as low as -4 degrees on Monday and below zero on Wednesday.
Q: Will it snow?
A: Yes, a few flurries are possible on Tuesday, and lake-effect flurries are possible for areas south of Interstate 80.
Q: How long will the extreme cold last?
A: The harsh cold will return by Monday, with high temperatures not making it out of the single digits.
Q: What’s the forecast for the weekend?
A: A chance of a rain and snow mix will slide its way in, though most of the system will stay to the south.
