Bitter cold temperatures are expected to continue throughout the week in Chicago, with wind chills plunging to minus 20, the National Weather Service said.
The temperature Monday was expected to dip to minus 3 at O’Hare, where the wind chill hit minus 6 Monday afternoon.
A cold weather advisory is in effect until noon Tuesday, accompanied by winds up to 15 mph; winds will subside as the day progresses.
“Even with [the wind letting up], we’re looking at wind chill readings in the middle of the day tomorrow at minus 5 to 0, with tomorrow night’s wind chill readings staying around 10 below,” said NWS meteorologist Todd Kluber. “Those coldest readings will be in the outlying areas like the far suburbs.”
Ice and snow encrust the rocks and seawall at Promontory Point on Monday afternoon. Tuesday’s high temps will be 8 to 14 degrees, and the low will be minus 2 to 8 degrees, with the wind chill ranging between 0 and minus 20. The deep freeze will last until Friday, when the high will be 26.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Temperatures are expected to slowly rise through the week, though the city won’t see a high above 20 until Thursday or Friday, the weather service said.
Dry weather will accompany the frigid temperatures, aside from a slight chance of lake effect snow Wednesday night near the lake, though Kluber said the amount of snow the city could see will vary as the bulk of the storm could stay to the south.
Cold conditions persist this week. While, most areas remain precipitation free, a couple of chances for light snow exist through mid-week. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/W73x2PZ4R8
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 17, 2025
The cold is part of a polar vortex that has plunged large swaths of the country into Arctic weather and “life-threatening cold.” It’s the 10th and coldest polar vortex so far this season.
Temperatures this low can cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes, so city officials advise wearing several layers of loose, warm clothes and keep skin covered when outside.
Symptoms of hypothermia include numbness and a pale appearance of the skin, slowed or slurred speech, memory loss, disorientation, uncontrollable shivering, drowsiness and exhaustion. It requires medical attention, though if it isn’t immediately available, people are advised to slowly warm the affected areas.
Drivers are advised to carry extra supplies for vehicles, including phone chargers, to be prepared in case of an emergency, city officials said.
Here’s a summary of the coldest conditions observed this morning as we entered our latest cold snap. For listed automated sites, the lowest wind chill & minimum temp were included. There’s no wind chill data available for the other low temp obs (bottom of graphic). #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/yAF1TyIIGs
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 17, 2025
Warming centers
The Salvation Army’s Freedom Center, 825 N. Christiana Ave., will serve as a warming center during the cold stretch. Those seeking shelter can call 311 to find a shelter and arrange transportation there.
Chicago warming centers will also be open — along with some Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library and police district locations — though hours might be affected Monday because of Presidents Day.
Seniors can also go to the Department of Family and Support Services’ 21 senior centers for warmth.