Chicago, IL – Much of northern Illinois will see its coldest night of the season as a Freeze Warning takes effect from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago.
The alert covers a wide stretch of counties — including Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, DeKalb, La Salle, Kankakee, Grundy, and Will — along with northwest Indiana counties of Lake, Newton, Jasper, and Benton.
According to the NWS, temperatures could fall to between 27°F and 30°F, with the coldest readings in inland areas away from Lake Michigan. A Frost Advisory remains in effect until 9 a.m. Thursday morning ahead of the deeper chill tonight.
Officials warn that frost and freezing conditions could kill crops and sensitive vegetation and may damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Residents are urged to cover or bring in plants and to drain or insulate hoses and sprinklers before nightfall.
The freeze marks the first widespread hard freeze of the season across the Chicago metro area and northern Illinois, effectively signaling the end of the growing season for most communities.
Temperatures are expected to rebound into the 50s by Friday afternoon, with another chilly night possible Saturday.
