Chicago, Illinois – Patchy freezing drizzle could create slick bridges and overpasses across the Chicago metro area by 6 a.m. Tuesday, especially along I-90, I-94 and Lake Shore Drive where surface temperatures may briefly dip below 32 degrees.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, isolated light rain and drizzle may fall overnight while air temperatures hover between 30 and 36 degrees. Areas outside the immediate city, particularly west and northwest of downtown near O’Hare and along I-290 and I-90, face the greatest chance for brief freezing conditions before sunrise Tuesday. Even a thin glaze could form on untreated elevated roadways.
Farther south toward I-80 and northwest Indiana, precipitation is expected to remain mainly liquid, though colder pockets cannot be ruled out early Tuesday morning. Drivers using I-55, I-57 and I-294 should remain alert for changing road conditions, especially on ramps and bridges that cool faster than surrounding pavement.
Conditions will gradually improve after midmorning Tuesday as temperatures climb into the 40s, reducing the icing threat. Periodic rain chances continue through midweek, but surface temperatures are expected to remain above freezing after Tuesday morning.
Motorists should slow down, increase following distance and avoid sudden braking if they encounter slick spots. Pedestrians should also watch for icy sidewalks during the early commute.
The brief freezing drizzle risk is expected to end by midmorning Tuesday, though additional rain chances remain in place through the rest of the week across northeast Illinois.
