Chicago, IL – The air feels heavy and still across the city this morning, a calm before the next winter weather shift. At 20°F, the bite of early December is unmistakable, but the real change is brewing for midweek — a rain-to-snow event that could turn Chicago’s Wednesday commute into a slick challenge.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, light flurries linger this morning before dry air settles in. Highs reach the mid-20s, and skies clear slightly by afternoon. But by late Tuesday, a strong southern flow will pull milder, moist air into northern Illinois, pushing highs near 38°F and setting up a rain-snow mix Tuesday night.
By Wednesday morning, colder air dives in behind the system, flipping rain to steady snow. Winds could gust 25–30 mph, reducing visibility across I-90, I-55, and Lake Shore Drive during the morning rush. The snow may linger into the evening, with 1–3 inches possible before tapering. Drivers should plan extra travel time and prepare for slick bridges and refreezing conditions Wednesday night as lows fall into the teens.
Late week brings a return to classic December cold, with highs near 25°F Thursday and low teens by Friday night. The weekend stays mostly sunny but frigid, with highs struggling to hit 20°F Saturday and Sunday.
Long-range models suggest lake-effect snow may redevelop near the Wisconsin-Illinois border by December 13–16, part of a broader Arctic push expected across the Great Lakes and Midwest.
Bundle up, Chicago — winter’s grip is only tightening.
