Chicago weather: Subzero wind chills to hit midweek

CHICAGO - After three straight days of 50+ degrees, it's time for payback. 

Chicago won’t be too dreadful today but that’s in comparison to what is on the way. Skies today will be mostly cloudy, and we will have temperatures holding fairly steady in the low to mid 30s after having already reached our high for the day at midnight when it was 42 degrees. Tonight will be mostly cloudy and cold with lows in the low to mid 20s.  

Tomorrow will be even colder with highs likely falling just shy of 30 degrees. I remain thoroughly unimpressed with any impactful snow although some flurries or a brief snow shower are possible as the truly-arctic air drills in.

Lows Wednesday night will be in the single digits and a few of our coldest spots may be close to zero. The worst of the cold will start then and carry through a positively frigid Thursday when highs will be in the teens. Wind chills that morning could be -10 to -20 degrees.

The deep freeze eases its grip on Friday, but as we transition to milder air for the weekend, precipitation will break out. There will be some snow or mix on the front end starting late Friday or at night changing to rain showers on Saturday.  

It should be pointed out that the US longer-term model advertises significant snow through Saturday morning over roughly the northern half of our viewing area, while the preferred European model isn’t having any of that. Highs this weekend will be firmly in the 40s.