Chicago weather: Arctic cold set to grip the area next week

Chicago temperatures will steadily drop from mild highs in the 30s this week to dangerous cold by early next week, with highs barely reaching 10 degrees and wind chills as low as -20.

Chicago weather forecast

What we know:

If you think it’s cold this morning, wait until early next week. Today will be sunny with temperatures barely cracking past 20°. Tonight the skies will become cloudy and there is a chance for some very light overnight snow, which would be a half inch or less, favoring our northern suburbs. 

Future forecast

Timeline:

Here's a look at the days ahead:

  • Thursday: Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy, breezy and milder. Highs should get into the mid, maybe upper 30s with the warmest readings, found where there is little to no snow cover northwest of the city.
  • Friday: The weekend will start with a partly sunny and even milder day with highs flirting with 40 degrees. 
  • Saturday: Friday night into early Saturday morning there could be a little light rain and or wet snow favoring areas southeast of Interstate 55. This is not a big storm system. However, this does begin a step-down in temperatures that will find Saturday’s highs close to 30 degrees.
  • Sunday: Temps will drop further into the teens. That’s just the beginning. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day: For the holiday, high temperatures may not get above 10 degrees with wind chills in the teens to 20 below zero range. 
  • Tuesday: Expect similar conditions when the kids go back to school on Tuesday. It might even be a couple of degrees colder than Monday.

Chicago warming centers

What you can do:

To find the nearest warming center or city facility to escape the cold, check out the list below or call 311.

  • Englewood Community Service Center, 1140 W. 79th St.
  • Garfield Community Service Center, 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
  • King Community Service Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
  • North Area Community Service Center, 845 W. Wilson Ave.
  • South Chicago Community Service Center, 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
  • Trina Davila Community Service Center, 4312 W. North Ave.

Warming centers are open between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday. Their hours may be extended under extreme conditions.

The Source: This story was written from various weather models interpreted by FOX 32 Meteorologist Mike Caplan.

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