Chicago, Illinois – Illinois is bracing for a long-duration Arctic outbreak that is expected to keep the state locked in dangerous cold well into February, raising concerns about subzero temperatures, icy travel, and infrastructure strain. Temperatures are set to plunge this weekend, with overnight lows dropping sharply statewide and some locations falling below zero, even before wind chills are considered.
According to the National Weather Service and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, outlooks from late January through mid-February strongly favor much below normal temperatures across the Midwest. This same Arctic pattern is driving extreme cold across the northern Plains, where parts of Minnesota are facing lows near minus 60 degrees, while reinforcing persistent subzero air across Illinois.
For Illinois, the prolonged freeze brings multiple hazards. Snow and periods of blowing snow remain possible, while rapid temperature drops increase the risk of icy roads on I-90, I-94, I-80, I-55, I-57, and secondary routes. The intense cold also raises the likelihood of frost quakes, a phenomenon already reported recently in the state as temperatures fall quickly and the ground contracts.
Looking ahead, only brief and limited moderation is possible, with no sustained warm-up likely before mid-February. Officials urge residents to limit outdoor exposure, protect plumbing, prepare vehicles for extreme cold, and stay alert for additional winter weather advisories and cold alerts as this prolonged Arctic air mass remains firmly in place.
