Chicago arctic blast: Below-zero nights and single-digit days ahead
CHICAGO - Chicagoland residents are in for a frigid stretch of weather starting tonight, as clear skies allow temperatures to plummet.
What we know:
Most areas will see lows barely above zero, but parts of the west, southwest, and south suburbs could dip below zero. Light winds of 5-10 mph will make it feel even colder, with wind chills ranging from -5 to -10 degrees.
Wednesday brings sunny skies and slightly warmer highs near 20. A weak system will move in Wednesday night, bringing scattered snow showers into early Thursday. After the snow tapers off Thursday morning, highs will climb into the mid-30s under partly sunny skies.
A brief warm-up arrives Friday, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. However, another storm system Friday night into Saturday could bring a mix of rain and snow to the region.
What's next:
Following Saturday morning’s precipitation, temperatures will drop steadily throughout the day, falling from the low 30s in the morning to the 20s by afternoon. Arctic air will dominate Sunday, with single-digit highs and subzero lows by nightfall.
The cold snap will persist into early next week. Monday’s high will only reach around 5 degrees, with another subzero night to follow. Tuesday looks similarly frigid, with single-digit highs under partly cloudy skies.