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Chicago weather: Dangerous cold slams area

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Published  January 20, 2025 5:30am CST
Weather Forecast
FOX 32 Chicago

Chicago weather: Brutal cold settles in

FOX 32's Mike Caplan breaks down today's weather outlook.

The Brief

    • Chicago is facing dangerously cold weather over the next two days, with wind chills potentially dropping below -20 degrees, prompting a Cold Weather Advisory through noon. 
    • Highs on Tuesday will remain in the single digits, and while temperatures will improve slightly on Wednesday, they will still struggle to reach the 20s. 
    • The weekend offers a slight warmup with highs in the low-to-mid 30s, though no major snowfall is expected.

CHICAGO - A brutal cold snap will be at its worst in Chicago for the next two days. 

Chicago weather forecast

Actual highs for today will be around 10 degrees with lows tonight below zero. Wind chills will be dangerous for those caught outside. The lowest readings will be tonight and tomorrow morning when feels-like temps could be worse than -20 degrees over our area. This may result in school closings.

A Cold Weather Advisory will be in effect for the entire Chicago area until noon.

Future forecast

Timeline:

Tuesday: Tomorrow’s highs will be in the single digits. Skies will be mostly to partly sunny. 

Wednesday: We come out of the deep freeze on Wednesday but it won’t be picnic weather. Highs will only climb into the 20s. There could be some snow showers Wednesday or Thursday but no significant snowfall is anywhere in sight. 

Thursday and Friday: Upper 20s are likely both days before a chance at low-to-mid 30s this weekend. 

Chicago warming centers

What you can do:

Locations open Monday: 

  • Garfield Community Service Center - 10 South Kedzie Avenue, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Sunday and Monday
  • Chicago Public Library (78 locations), visit chipublib.org for hours and locations
  • Libraries will be closed on Monday, January 20
  • Chicago Park District (59 locations) locations will be open during hours of operation
  • 59 field houses open on Monday, January 20 - Chicago Park District Locations open MLK Holiday
  • Chicago Police Districts (22 locations)

Locations open Tuesday through Friday

  • All Community Service Centers (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
  • Englewood Community Service Center - 1140 West 79th Street
  • Garfield Community Service Center - 10 South Kedzie Avenue (8 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center - 4314 South Cottage Grove
  • North Area Community Service Center - 845 West Wilson Avenue
  • South Chicago Community Service Center - 8650 South Commercial Avenue
  • Trina Davila Community Service Center - 4312 West North Avenue
  • Senior Centers (21 locations) 8:30am-4:30pm – visit Chicago.gov/Seniors for locations
  • Chicago Public Library (78 locations), visit chipublib.org for hours and locations
  • Chicago Park District (75 locations) will be open during hours of operation
  • Renaissance Court, Chicago Cultural Center 72 E. Randolph, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Chicago Police Districts (22 locations)

Big picture view:

Forty years ago today, the temperature hit -27 degrees at O’Hare. That’s Chicago’s coldest on record. 

Weather ForecastChicagoNews