The entire Chicago area is still under a wind chill advisory as of Wednesday, and temperatures and wind chill values should gradually increase before another swift-moving “arctic blast” arrives over the weekend.
As per the National Weather Service, the wind chill advisory will be in force until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, affecting all the counties in the Chicago area, including Kenosha County in Wisconsin and LaPorte, Porter, and Newton Counties in Indiana.
In addition, ice jams could result in a sharp rise in water levels, prompting flood for Grundy, Will, and LaSalle Counties.
Chicago wind chill values of -15 to -25 are predicted for Wednesday, per the NWS. Even though it might still feel extremely cold, the wind chill values on Tuesday were much lower.
At five in the morning on Wednesday, O’Hare International Airport recorded three degrees with a wind chill of -13. Tuesday at 5 a.m., the wind chill was -24.
According to NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman, “wind chill temperatures are improving a little bit today — around -20.” “Getting better, but still brutal.”
Roman stated that Wednesday is predicted to reach a high temperature of 16 degrees, with a slight increase in temperature overnight. The highs will be in the low 20s by Thursday, according to Roman.
But from Friday through Saturday, there will be another swift “arctic blast” that will keep the wind chill in the low teens.
The NBC 5 Storm Team predicts -10 degree wind chills on Friday. It will feel like -15 on Saturday and -12 on Sunday. On those days, the air will be mostly in the teens and low 20s.
Two rounds of accumulating snow are also anticipated for the area, the first of which is anticipated to start overnight.
Chicago area will see two waves of snow.
Roman predicted that Thursday will be dry during the day, with snow developing later this evening.
The snowfall is predicted to pick up overnight, according to Roman. “Light snow will move in later this evening after about 9 or 10 p.m., with a few places seeing flakes as early as 6 p.m.”
According to Roman, the snowfall that fell overnight on Wednesday is predicted to remain farther south and throughout Northwest Indiana. Most places should have between.5 and 1 inches of snow accumulated by Thursday morning, with higher totals expected in the south.
“Prepare for periods of low visibility and slippery travel conditions,” the National Weather Service stated.
More widespread snowfall is anticipated Thursday night and into Friday morning, with 1 to 3 inches predicted in most places.
These totals are anticipated to be much higher in Northwest Indiana along the lake because heavier lake-effect snow is predicted through Friday night, according to Roman.
The forecast calls for warmer temperatures
The good news is that there’s a good chance above-average temperatures will be experienced in the Chicago region by the end of the month.
According to the eight- and 14-day temperature forecasts by the NBC 5 Storm Team, January 23–29 is likely to see above-average temperatures.
It’s usually between 31 and 32 degrees on those days, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team. As for the weather, forecast models indicate that low 40s are possible eventually, with a high of 34 degrees on Monday of next week, 39 degrees on Tuesday, and 41 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday.
Roman compared it to a “mini heat wave.”