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Chicago weather: Scattered snow tonight, bitter cold ahead

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Published  January 15, 2025 7:29pm CST
Weather Forecast
FOX 32 Chicago

Late week warmup will be followed by another bitter blast this weekend

Emily Wahls has your Chicago weather update!

The Brief

    • Scattered snow tonight could make travel slick across the region.
    • A warming trend will bring highs near 40 degrees Friday before another storm brings rain and snow.
    • Bitter cold is expected by the weekend, with single-digit temperatures persisting into early next week.

CHICAGO - Chicagoland residents can expect scattered snow tonight as a weak weather system moves through the area.

While most locations will only see a light dusting, slick travel conditions could develop overnight as temperatures hover in the teens and rise slightly to the lower 20s by morning.

Chicago Forecast

What's next:

Thursday will bring mostly cloudy skies, with the possibility of patchy freezing drizzle or light snow showers in the morning. Highs will reach the mid-30s during the afternoon as a brief warm-up begins.

The warmer trend will continue Friday, with temperatures climbing into the upper 30s to near 40 degrees. However, a storm system arriving Friday night will bring a mix of rain and snow to the region before a cold front ushers in a dramatic temperature drop for the weekend.

Behind the system, temperatures will plummet, with arctic air dominating through early next week. Sunday morning lows will be in the single digits, and by Monday, they are expected to dip below zero. Daytime highs on Monday and Tuesday will struggle to rise above the single digits.

Why you should care:

With snow and freezing drizzle possible tonight and early Thursday, travel conditions may be hazardous. The brief warm-up Friday will bring some relief, but the significant drop in temperatures over the weekend and into next week will require preparation for extreme cold. Residents should take precautions to protect themselves and their homes from the dangerously low temperatures expected early next week.

Timeline

  • Tonight: Scattered snow and cold temperatures in the teens.
  • Thursday: Mostly cloudy with morning snow showers or freezing drizzle; highs in the mid-30s.
  • Friday: Warmer, with highs near 40, followed by rain and snow Friday night.
  • Saturday: Falling temperatures from the 20s to the teens, with possible morning snow showers.
  • Sunday: Bitterly cold with single-digit highs and partly cloudy skies.
  • Monday and Tuesday: Arctic air takes hold, with subzero lows Monday morning and highs barely reaching single digits.
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