Brace yourself for a blast of winter weather, Chicagoans. According to the National Weather Service, there's a 30 percent chance of snow starting late this afternoon, and things are only expected to get more intense as we move into the night. The highs today are lingering around a chilly 27 degrees, with winds shifting from north-northwest to northeast as the day progresses - and don't be surprised if those gusts reach up to 15 mph.
Colder weather continues this week with highs in the 20s. Snow and slippery travel conditions remain possible later today through Monday. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/iSz6khV2ys
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 5, 2025
Tonight, snow is "likely, mainly after midnight," with cloudy skies and a low of about 25 degrees, the northeast wind will pick up speeding 10 to 15 mph and could gust up to 30 mph, now that's a recipe for pulling your coat a little tighter. The National Weather Service forecasts a 60% chance of precipitation with potential new snow accumulation of around an inch.
Snow showers are expected on Monday afternoon, with temperatures reaching around 30 degrees. Winds from the north-northeast will blow at 15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph. There's a 90% chance of snow, bringing 1 to 3 inches, as per the NWS.
As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, lake-effect snow is predicted to begin Sunday night and continue into Monday. which means even as some might be winding down their weekends, the sky above is just getting started, the snowfall may contribute to "tricky travel conditions," so it's best to monitor updates and prepare accordingly.
The rest of the week offers a slight respite from the snowy battering – partly sunny skies with highs in the mid-20s, though the cold isn't loosening its grip just yet, as nighttime temperatures dip into the mid-teens. Looking ahead to Wednesday and Thursday, expect more sunshine but no significant warm-up, as daytime highs hover around the low-to-mid 20s, and evenings get even chillier dropping down to around 12 to 18 degrees, the NWS noted.
