The city is bracing for a series of weather shifts this week, coming into full force with today's sunny skies being accompanied by a chill, as temperatures hover near 39 degrees and winds from the west ramp up between 10 to 15 mph, gusting at times up to 25 mph. Local Chicagoans should prepare for these conditions which, according to the National Weather Service, will persist into the night with a slight chance of snow after midnight, transitioning to a rain-snow mix early Wednesday morning.
The forecast continues to signal varying precipitation throughout the approaching days, stuffing travelers' plans with potential complications; a 40 percent chance of rain and snow is expected Wednesday afternoon, as reported by the National Weather Service, while CBS Chicago notes some light snow may also grace parts of the region just south of Chicago by the morning. While no significant accumulation is expected, and Thanksgiving Day foresees only a slim chance of snow showers with partly sunny conditions, this could cause minor inconveniences across travel routes.
Residents looking to thaw out post-Thanksgiving will have to keep those coats buttoned up tight, as temperatures are predicted to take a steep dive; Thursday night will dip down to around 24 degrees, and from Friday through to the start of next week, daytime highs are slated to hover just below freezing around 29 degrees with nighttime lows sinking into the teens. Expect mostly sunny skies over the weekend, offering some consolation to Chicagoans enduring the coldest air the season has offered up to date.
A blast of arctic air will bring frigid temperatures from Friday through Sunday, with lows dipping into the mid-teens. This cold snap will be tough for overnight commuters and anyone unprepared for the chill. The start of next week will bring sunny days, but don't expect warmth; mornings and evenings will remain bitterly cold.
