Braidwood, IL – Residents across large portions of Illinois are urged to prepare for dangerously cold conditions as a Cold Weather Advisory takes effect this weekend, bringing life-threatening wind chills and increased frostbite risk.
According to Braidwood ESDA and the National Weather Service, the advisory begins at 8 p.m. CST Saturday and remains in effect until noon Sunday. During this time, wind chills are expected to plunge as low as 20 to 25 degrees below zero, creating hazardous conditions for anyone spending extended time outdoors.
The advisory covers portions of central, east-central, north-central, and northeast Illinois, as well as northwest Indiana. Communities within Will County, Grundy County, and surrounding areas near the Chicago metro are expected to feel the brunt of the cold, particularly overnight into early Sunday morning.
Officials warn that these dangerously low wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. The cold may also impact travel, outdoor work, and anyone without adequate shelter or winter clothing.
Emergency management officials recommend limiting time outdoors whenever possible and taking extra precautions if travel is necessary. Residents are urged to wear multiple layers of clothing, including hats and gloves, and to ensure pets and vulnerable individuals are kept warm.
Drivers should also be mindful of the cold’s impact on vehicles, including reduced battery performance and the potential for stalled cars in extreme temperatures.
This cold snap follows a stretch of relatively calmer winter weather, making the sudden drop in wind chills especially dangerous for those unprepared. Officials emphasize checking on elderly neighbors and ensuring children are properly dressed before heading outside.
Weather conditions are expected to gradually improve later Sunday afternoon as temperatures rebound slightly, though cold conditions will remain across the region into early next week.
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