This Thanksgiving holiday is on track to be the coldest one since 1989.
With a high of 32 degrees expected Thursday, the bitter temps would mark the coldest Thanksgiving weather since a 27-degree holiday in 1989. The wind chill will make temperatures feel like they're in the teens during the early morning hours, but overall, the Chicago area is expected to remain dry, with partly sunny skies.
Lake effect snow that dropped several inches in northwest Indiana will continue to taper into Wednesday evening.
As the cold blast continues to grip the Chicago area, city officials are reminding residents to be extra cautious.
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications, the Department of Streets and Sanitation and other city departments are encouraging residents to prepare for extreme conditions heading into the winter months.
“As we have seen with recent weather emergencies here in Illinois, dealing with extreme weather is not just preparing for an emergency situation, but also having a plan of action in responding and recovering from that situation,” OEMC Executive Director Gary W. Schenkel said in a statement. “City departments are prepared to clean streets of snow and perform well being checks this winter in all weather conditions, and we ask residents to help prepare for winter, check on their neighbors during extreme temperature and to call for assistance when necessary.”
The OEMC is urging residents to prepare emergency kits for residences and vehicles and stock up on necessities.
Local
Officials said residents should heed the warnings given by experts, know the implications of wind chill advisories, winter storm watches and warning, and “winterize” your home and vehicles.
The Chicago Fire Department does not recommend using space heaters, but said if they are used, be sure they are UL certified and at least 3 feet from anything that can ignite.
Over the weekend Chicago saw the coldest temperatures since January.
The cold blast moved in Saturday night as temperatures plunged to a low of 13 degrees with blustery conditions. Wind chills dropped near zero degrees, reaching below zero in some area, marking the coldest air mass to hit Chicago so far this season.
The last time November saw temperatures this cold was in 1991.
