While much of the area’s attention is on the heavy snowfall that is coming this weekend, a mass of cold air will move in behind the storm, bringing dangerously frigid temperatures to the area for the start of the new week.
The cold air will start to move into the area Saturday night and into Sunday morning, with a low temperature of 10 degrees currently forecasted for the Chicago-area. On Sunday, the mercury will barely move, getting up to a high in the high-teens before dropping back into the single digits in the overnight hours.
Wind chills are expected to drop below zero over the weekend as gusty winds remain in the area after snowfall ends.
Things will warm slightly on Monday as cold air hangs around, bringing temperatures into the low-to-mid 20’s, but the unseasonable cold will stick around into the week, as Wednesday and Thursday will see high temperatures in the low 20’s.
Looking at the extended forecast, the area could see even colder temperatures next weekend, as temps in the mid-to-high teens are expected.
With cold weather in the forecast, Cook County has announced that it will open warming centers throughout the region to give residents a place to stay safe during the cold snap. A full list of those sites can be found on the county website, and on NBC Chicago.
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In addition, the Illinois Department of Transportation will deploy extra salt trucks and plows throughout the weekend to clear snow from roadways and to help deal with icing on road surfaces, but the agency also encourages drivers to avoid unnecessary travel, and if you have to drive, slow down and increase your distance between vehicles.
The department also offered these tips to deal with the cold:
-Fill up your gas tank and pack winter weather essentials such as a cellphone charger, warm clothes, blankets, food, water, washer fluid, and an ice scraper.
-Use extra caution in areas susceptible to ice, including ramps, bridges, curves, and shady areas.
-If you are involved in a crash, remain inside your vehicle. Exiting your vehicle near a busy roadway can have fatal consequences.
-Give plows plenty of room and don’t pass unnecessarily.
For all the latest information on the wintry weather, you can track the storm with the NBC 5 Storm Team via our mobile app or NBCChicago.com.
