Hundreds of flights were canceled at Chicago airports Tuesday as life-threatening cold descended on the city.
At O'Hare Airport, at least 166 cancellations were reported as of 8 a.m. At Midway Airport, 284 cancellations were reported.
Delays at both airports were around 15 minutes, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
The entire Chicago area was under a Wind Chill Advisory early Tuesday, which was scheduled to become a Wind Chill Warning at 6 p.m.
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Highs were expected to reach between -5 inland to 5 above closer to the lake and in northwest Indiana.
The temps will hold fairly steady through the morning, but then start to fall in the afternoon and evening. Wind gusts to 35 mph will create wind chill readings between -20 to -35 on average.
The gusty winds, combined with flurries and scattered snow showers at times, will also cause blowing and drifting snow which will likely produce near whiteout conditions at times especially in more rural locations.
Any snow showers end early, otherwise windy and dangerously cold as temperatures plummet to -18 in the city to -25 inland by dawn. Brisk winds will create wind chill readings between -45 to -55 degrees.
