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Chicago, IL – The National Weather Service in Chicago is warning residents to prepare for a one-two punch of snow and bitter cold as a wintry system moves across northern Illinois tonight, followed by sub-zero wind chills this weekend.
❄️ Snow Expected Tonight (Thursday Night, Dec. 11)
Snow is forecast to develop between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. CST, mainly southwest of the Chicago metro area, including Joliet, Kankakee, Pontiac, and Paxton.
- Expected Accumulations: 1–3 inches southwest of Chicago, with 2–4 inches possible farther south.
- Travel Impacts: Reduced visibility, slick roads, and hazardous conditions for the late-night and Friday morning commute.
🥶 Dangerous Cold Follows
Behind the snow, bitterly cold Arctic air will settle into the region Friday night through Monday.
- Friday–Saturday: Highs only in the teens, with wind chills between -5°F and -15°F.
- Sunday: Even colder, with morning wind chills possibly reaching -20°F.
- Monday: Temperatures gradually climb into the 20s, but subzero wind chills may persist early in the day.
NWS forecasters note that “wind chills below zero are expected for most of the weekend,” with frostbite possible on exposed skin in 15–30 minutes.
⚠️ What You Can Do
- Slow down and allow extra travel time tonight and early Friday.
- Bundle up — wear multiple layers, gloves, and hats.
- Check on vulnerable neighbors and bring pets indoors.
- Monitor updates from weather.gov/chicago for advisories and alerts.
