Chicago, IL – The National Weather Service in Chicago is warning residents that meaningful forecast changes are likely as a potential winter storm develops heading into the weekend. As of early Wednesday morning, November 26, 2025, strong winds and sharply colder temperatures are already creating difficult travel conditions across northern Illinois.
According to the National Weather Service, westerly gusts up to 50 mph are expected Wednesday, ushering in much colder air with highs only in the mid-30s and overnight lows dropping into the teens and lower 20s. Thanksgiving Day will remain cold and blustery, with wind chills between 7 and 15 degrees early in the morning.
Forecasters say after a quiet but chilly Friday, up to 6″ of accumulating snow is likely to begin late Friday night and continue into Saturday, potentially impacting post-holiday travel. By Sunday, lingering snow showers and bitter cold are expected, with lows falling into the single digits in some areas.
The agency emphasized that major updates to the winter storm forecast remain possible within the next 3–4 days, a common period for shifting weather models. Residents are urged to stay alert for changes and to plan for travel disruptions across the region this weekend.
For the latest updates, visit weather.gov/Chicago.
