Chicago, Illinois – A high-confidence arctic outbreak is poised to spread across the Great Lakes region, with an estimated 80% chance of dangerously cold temperatures impacting millions from the Upper Midwest into the interior Northeast. The cold is expected to bring some of the harshest conditions of the season, raising concerns for travel, infrastructure, and public safety through early next week.
According to the National Weather Service, a powerful arctic air mass is expected to surge south and east, engulfing Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The coldest stretch is expected to peak from Saturday through Tuesday, with many areas seeing daytime temperatures stuck in the single digits or teens and overnight lows falling below zero in northern zones.
Wind chills will pose the greatest danger, frequently dropping into the 15 to 30 below zero range across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, with subzero wind chills extending as far south as northern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Even urban corridors around Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Milwaukee could see frostbite risks within minutes during overnight and early morning hours.
Lake-effect snow showers may develop downwind of the Great Lakes, especially in Michigan, northern Indiana, Ohio, and western New York, creating slick roads along Interstates 90, 94, and 75. Officials urge residents to limit outdoor exposure, protect exposed pipes, and prepare vehicles for extreme cold.
The arctic pattern is expected to hold into early next week, and additional wind chill advisories or warnings are likely as confidence remains high in prolonged, dangerous cold across the Great Lakes.
