Chicago, Illinois – An arctic blast is locking onto the Chicago area tonight, bringing some of the coldest wind chills so far this winter and creating dangerous conditions through Sunday afternoon. This is a high-impact cold event with real frostbite risk for anyone outdoors without protection.
The worst conditions arrive this evening and intensify overnight. Northwest winds combined with plunging temperatures will drive wind chills between 20 and 25 below zero across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwest Indiana. Exposure at those levels can lead to frostbite in as little as 30 minutes, especially on hands, ears, and face.
According to the National Weather Service office in Chicago, a Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect from 8 p.m. CST this evening through noon Sunday. The advisory covers all of northeast Illinois, including Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry, and Kankakee counties, along with northwest Indiana counties such as Lake, Newton, Jasper, and Benton. Cities impacted include Chicago, Evanston, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Waukegan, Gary, Hammond, and Merrillville.
Travel late tonight and Sunday morning along I-90, I-94, I-290, I-55, and I-80 will be marked by extreme cold, especially for anyone dealing with car trouble or waiting for transit. According to emergency management officials, residents should avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, dress in multiple layers, and fully cover exposed skin with hats, gloves, and face protection. Children waiting for buses should be especially well protected.
The extreme cold will also stress heating systems and raise concerns for pets and plumbing. Pets should be kept indoors, exposed pipes protected, and space heaters used with caution. Even short outdoor tasks late tonight could become dangerous without proper clothing.
Wind chills slowly improve Sunday afternoon, but cold conditions persist into early next week across northern Illinois.
