Chicago, Illinois – Dangerously cold temperatures and life-threatening wind chills are expected to persist across much of the eastern United States through early February, with the most severe impacts continuing this week.
According to the National Weather Service and the Weather Prediction Center, record or near-record low temperatures are forecast across large portions of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Northeast. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the single digits and below zero in many areas, with wind chills dropping into the minus teens and minus 20s, particularly north of the Ohio River.
In northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, wind chills near -20 degrees are expected tonight, especially along exposed corridors near I-90 and I-94. Similar conditions are forecast across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, where prolonged cold increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia in as little as 10 to 30 minutes.
Forecasters warn that an additional surge of Arctic air is expected later this week, spreading from the Plains into the East and Southeast Friday into Saturday. This push of cold air could bring record lows as far south as the Deep South and even parts of Florida. Some locations may experience their coldest temperatures in several years, along with one of the longest continuous stretches below freezing in decades.
The extreme cold follows a recent winter storm that left some communities dealing with power outages, increasing the danger for vulnerable populations. Officials urge residents to limit time outdoors, wear layered clothing, and ensure pets and livestock are protected from the cold.
Motorists traveling along major roadways such as I-70, I-75, and I-40 should be prepared for vehicle issues related to extreme cold, including battery failure and reduced visibility during blowing snow.
Temperatures are expected to gradually moderate during the first week of February, but cold conditions are forecast to remain widespread through at least midweek.
