This weekend will bring the frigid cold to Chicago.
Single-digit temperatures, strong winds and snow are expected to arrive this Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The heavy snow is expected to continue through Saturday morning.
Another strong storm system is likely Fri into Sat although uncertainty still remains in the exact track. Additionally, temperatures will likely be near or even above freezing which would limit accumulations, particularly near the lake. Stay tuned for updates! (2/3) pic.twitter.com/Zglj4V3tEr
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 10, 2024
What’s uncertain, however, is how warmer air off of Lake Michigan will impact snow-to-liquid ratios and if it will lead to inches of snow build-up. Meteorologists are still monitoring the storm's project impact so expect any Winter Storm Watches to be issued by the NWS Wednesday afternoon.
The storm rolling in on Friday follows inches of snowfall pouring into the city earlier this week. The mix of heavy rain prevented snow from building up, however, while a slush of precipitation still accumulated on the city's streets. The average temperature during the month of January in Chicago is 25.2 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NWS.
Chicago's winter overnight parking ban is in effect as parking is prohibited on designated streets between 3am and 7am until April 1, 2024.
How cold will it get in Chicago?
The winter weather isn’t expected to stop there—the coldest temperatures of the season so far could roll in starting Sunday and into next week. Arctic air moving toward Chicago will bring high temperatures into the single digits while the coldest wind chills could reach -30 degrees, according to the NWS. That's cold enough to produce frostbite on exposed skin in only 15-30 minutes, so the weather service recommends to bundle up well.
The weather service is still monitoring how long the cold spell is expected to last and how much snowfall will reach Chicago.