Chicago Battles Extreme Cold and Winter Storm Conditions
The Chicago metropolitan area has endured a period of extreme cold temperatures and severe winter weather, leading to widespread transportation disruptions, school closures, and the activation of warming centers. The challenging conditions included significantly low temperatures with severe wind chills, followed by lake-effect snow and a broader winter storm system impacting the region.
Wind chills ranged from -30 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit, presenting a risk of frostbite on exposed skin within 10 minutes.
Extreme Cold and Wind Chill Conditions
An Extreme Cold Warning was in effect for the Chicago area from 3 a.m. to noon on Friday, January 19, with continued extremely cold conditions projected throughout the day. Temperatures reached 5 degrees Fahrenheit by midnight Thursday, dropping to -7 degrees Fahrenheit by Friday morning.
On Saturday morning, temperatures in the region were recorded between -3 and -11 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chills ranging from approximately -20 to -25 degrees. Temperatures were predicted to rise above zero later on Saturday, though very cold conditions were anticipated throughout the upcoming week.
Winter Weather Advisories and Snowfall
Several parts of the Chicago area were under a Winter Weather Advisory for continuing lake-effect snow on Saturday.
Lake-Effect Snow Advisories
Specific advisories for lake-effect snow included:
- Cook and eastern Will counties: Until 4 p.m. Saturday.
- Porter County (Indiana): Until noon Saturday.
- Lake County (Indiana): Until 6 p.m. Saturday.
Lake-effect snow intensified between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Saturday, weakening after 8 a.m. and expected to diminish by late afternoon. Lakefront areas were forecast to receive an additional 2-4 inches of snow.
Some areas within the Chicago region could receive up to 6 inches of snow between Saturday evening and Sunday, with snowfall totals varying significantly due to the lake effect.
Broader Winter Storm System
A broader winter storm was forecast to impact the Chicago area starting Saturday evening. A Winter Weather Advisory was active for many counties from Saturday night through Monday. Affected Illinois counties included Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, Will, and Livingston. In Indiana, Newton, Jasper, Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties were under advisory until Monday morning.
Lakeside locations were projected to receive 5 to 6 inches of snow, while areas 10 to 20 miles away were expected to see rapidly decreasing amounts. Kane, DeKalb, and McHenry counties were not under the advisory and were projected to receive up to 1 inch of snow. The snow was anticipated to be light and fluffy, potentially leading to slick road conditions from Saturday night through Sunday.
Snowfall Totals (as of 10 p.m. Friday)
- Portage: 4.0 inches
- Merrillville: 4.0 inches
- Chesterton: 4.0 inches
- Morton Grove: 3.7 inches
- Lake Station: 3.7 inches
- O'Hare: 2.5 inches
Transportation Impacts
The severe weather conditions resulted in significant disruptions to air and ground travel across the region.
Air Travel
Over 8,000 flights were canceled nationwide this weekend.
As of Saturday, nearly 200 flights at O'Hare International Airport and 30 at Midway International Airport were canceled. On Friday, an American Airlines plane at O'Hare had its wingtip contacted by a deicing truck, necessitating a replacement aircraft; no injuries were reported. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinated with airlines and airports for preparations, warning of possible airport closures and committing to support recovery efforts.
Public Transit
Metra operated on a reduced schedule across all its lines on Friday. The South Shore Line followed a weekend/holiday schedule on Friday.
Roadways
Slippery road conditions were reported in northern suburbs, particularly along the Edens Expressway, leading to multiple crashes on Friday due to intense snowfall. Road conditions in northwest Indiana were also impacted, with snowplows active on Saturday.
Community Response
Some schools announced closures for Friday due to the severe weather. Warming centers were operational in both Chicago and its suburban areas to provide refuge from the cold. In preparation for the broader storm system, at least 17 states declared a state of emergency.
Week Ahead Outlook
The forecast indicates cold, dry weather for the upcoming week, with a potential for a wintry mix by the following Friday.