CHICAGO — Dangerously cold conditions are on the way this weekend, with wind chill temperatures expected to plunge as low as 35 degrees below zero in the city.
An extreme cold watch will be in effect from late Thursday night through Friday morning in Chicago, the National Weather Services reported.
That’s when temperatures may not reach zero degrees, with Friday possibly seeing a high temperature of minus 5. Combined with blustery conditions, the wind chill temperature could make it feel like minus 35 overnight Thursday into Friday.
The temps are expected to see little improvement through Saturday morning, as wind chills will continue to hang between 15-25 degrees below zero.
The wind chills are capable of causing frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. With temperatures this low, the National Weather Service recommends staying inside if possible, and if you have to go out, make sure to cover any exposed skin, said Zachary Yack, a meteorologist for the weather service.
Credit: NWSChicago/X
Before the deep freeze arrives, gusty scattered snow showers are expected to move across the area starting Wednesday evening, with snow accumulation up to one inch. Gusts may reach over 40 mph, causing low visibility in open areas and hazardous travel conditions.
“Looks like the cold [is] gonna stick with us through a good chunk of the weekend here,” Yack said. “We stay in the pattern basically lock until at least Tuesday of next week.”
By Tuesday, temperatures are expected to return to the mid-20s, he said.
Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for and stay safe in the extreme cold.
How To Dress
- Dress in layers.
- Don’t leave your skin exposed to the cold.
- Remove wet clothing.
During periods of extreme cold, officials have advised Chicagoans to cover up and stay inside as much as possible. Frostbite can develop on exposed skin in just a few minutes during deep cold.
The National Weather Service has advised people who do go outside during cold snaps to dress in layers. During 2019’s polar vortex — when it felt as cold as 50 below zero at times — the weather agency suggested Chicagoans wear a warm hat, a face mask, three or more layers of upper-body clothing (including one insulating layer), gloves, waterproof boots and two or more layers of lower-body clothing.
People should remove clothing that becomes wet if they’ve been exposed to cold, officials have said.
And families should limit the time they have children outside, officials have said.
Credit: NWSChicago/X
How To Protect Your Pets From Cold
- Keep your pet inside.
- Use booties to protect their paws.
If you have to take them outside, remember to put booties over their feet so their pads aren’t hurt by salt or the chemicals used to melt ice on the sidewalks and roads, according to the ASPCA. Rubbing petroleum jelly on their pads before going outside also offers some protection.
Officials have also urged people to bring pets indoors during past periods of extreme cold. If you feed cats that live outside, you can make them a shelter using a few supplies from the hardware store by following these guidelines.
Chicago Heat Ordinance
- Requirements vary.
- Call 311 if you have an issue.
Landlords are required to supply heat to units during the winter under the Chicago Heat Ordinance.
People who live in a residential building with shared heating should have their heat be at least 68 degrees 8:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and at least 66 degrees 10:30 p.m.-8:30 a.m. People who live in a building where units have individual heating equipment should have equipment that is capable of maintaining a temperature of at least 68 degrees.
Landlords who don’t follow the ordinance can be fined $500-$1,000 per violation per day, and “system malfunctions is not an excuse,” former buildings Commissioner Matt Beaudet said in 2022. Tenants should immediately call 311 if their landlord doesn’t provide adequate heat, he said.
Read more about the ordinance here.
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