Bundle up out there, Chicagoland!
The cold and windy conditions will continue throughout Thursday afternoon, but there’s a pleasant warmup ahead for the weekend.
During the midday hour, temperatures remained in the mid-20s, but a strong northwesterly wind dropped the "feels like" temperature to the teens. That’s not much of an improvement from the morning, when air temperatures were in the teens and single digits in some areas with wind-chill values well below zero.
Cold Conditions Expected
Expect the day’s highs to top out in the upper 20s for air temperatures and the mid-teens for wind chills. It should remain dry and quiet, however, aside from winds gusting up to 30 to 35 miles per hour and a few flurries possible.
City of Chicago Warming Centers
The City of Chicago has warming centers available during extreme cold. These centers provide a safe and warm environment for individuals to escape the harsh weather conditions.
Weather Blog: Season’s Coldest Air to Date
According to the Weather Blog, the season’s coldest air to date has settled into the Dakotas, with widespread sub-zero lows on Thursday morning.
Forecast
Thursday: Mostly sunny, windy, and cold, with winds from the northwest at 10-20 mph, gusting to 35. High 28.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with winds from the west-northwest at 5-10 mph, gusting to 15. Low 15.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with winds from the west-southwest at 10-15 mph, gusting to 25. High 31.
Weekend Warmup
Friday looks to remain chilly, with highs around 30, but colder in the morning hours during the 22nd annual WGN Morning News Drive-Thru Toy Drive. Then, temperatures will see a big increase over the weekend, reaching the upper 40s by Sunday and into next week.
FAQs
Q: What kind of weather can I expect on Thursday?
A: Expect mostly sunny, windy, and cold conditions, with highs reaching 28 degrees.
Q: What are the wind conditions expected to be like on Thursday?
A: Winds will be gusting up to 30 to 35 miles per hour.
Q: Are there any warming centers available in the City of Chicago?
A: Yes, the City of Chicago has warming centers available during extreme cold.
Q: What’s the forecast looking like for the weekend?
A: Temperatures will see a big increase, reaching the upper 40s by Sunday and into next week.