Weather Gods Give Us a Break

Weekend brings warmer temps, possible snow

Updated 12:54 PM CST, Sat, Jan 17, 2009

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Cesar Barradas

The deep cold that seized Illinois for two days has loosened its grip, leaving flooded rivers, frozen waterways and at least three deaths in its wake.

Temperatures reached the low 20s in the northern part of the state Saturday -- balmy compared to the subzero weather that forced people to hide their grimaces behind scarves and ski masks. The National Weather Service said it was the coldest episode in northern Illinois since February 1996.

The cold claimed lives. A driver lost control on ice in a Chicago suburb Thursday and forced a truck off a bridge. The truck's driver, 69-year-old John Hichen of Downers Grove, was killed in a 40-foot fall. In central Illinois, 37-year-old Thomas Edwards of Normal was found Thursday in the snow outside his home. A preliminary autopsy indicated he was intoxicated and froze to death. And 73-year-old William Divello of Chicago died Thursday after slipping on ice.

Looking ahead to Sunday, highs around 22 are predicted with a low around 10.

Thursday was the first time in 13 years that the mercury didn't rise past zero, and you could likely feel it. And Thursday was just the midpoint of meteorological winter.

One More Thing About the Weather

WATCH

One More Thing About the Weather

On Thursday, the Chicago Park District closed all nine outdoor rinks around the city as a safety precaution against the inclement weather. That's how cold it was. Too cold to ice skate.

Though the snow is gone -- for now -- plunging temperatures have brought a whole new set of problems to Chicago area residents as authorities report significant increases in reports of stranded motorists and people seeking shelter from the bitter cold.

Some tips from the city for dealing with winter conditions:

-- Don't pile snow near fire hydrants.

-- Use caution with space heaters. Keep them three feet away from anything that can burn: bedding, clothing, curtains, people.

-- Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly or disabled.

-- Make sure your smoke detector works.

-- If you get stuck in your car, stay in the car but don't run your engine non-stop. Carbon monoxide can build up. Instead, crank your engine in intervals of 10 minutes with the heat on and crack your window.

If you're a pet owner, Petfinders.com has seven cold weather tips to keep your pet safe during extreme weather:

After a walk, remove any ice or snow from your pet’s paws and towel him / her off to avoid a chill.
Make sure your pet has plenty of high-quality protein if he / she is outside - staying warm burns more calories.
Always give the hood of your car a sharp knock before starting the engine. Cats and other small animals sometimes climb up under the hood of a car to get warm. The noise will wake them up and give them time to escape.
Never leave your pet in a car in cold weather. Your car is like a refrigerator and may cause hypothermia.
Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep.
Never use metal water bowls outside. When it is cold, your pet’s tongue may stick to the metal. Check water frequently to ensure it has not frozen.
Save that shaved look for warm weather. A dog can use a bit of a fur coat when temperatures dip.