Weather in Chicago: Dangerously cold wind chills expected

CHICAGO – Chicago’s weather is about to take a dramatic turn as an arctic air mass moves into the region.

Tuesday brought clouds and seasonal cold with highs below 30°C. Tonight temperatures will drop to as low as 20°C under persistent cloud cover.

Forecast for Wednesday:

• Temperatures will start in the 20s and briefly rise to around 30°F before falling into the teens by late afternoon.
• Isolated snow showers are expected, short, strong snow squalls are possible. These could reduce visibility and lead to dangerous driving conditions.
• Winds will increase, reaching speeds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts over 40 mph. Wind chills will drop to -10°F to -20°F by midnight.

The forecast for Thursday:

• The coldest day of the week will start in the single digits, with wind chills below freezing lasting into the morning.
• Highs will only reach the mid to upper teens, with wind chills remaining in the single digits.
• Areas south of I-80 may see light snow, but most of the region will remain partly cloudy.

Friday and weekend:

The deep frost will ease by Friday, with highs in the low to medium range under mostly cloudy skies. Another system arrives Friday night into Saturday, bringing the possibility of rain, snow or freezing rain. Weekend high temperatures will reach the upper 30s to near 40°F.