As Chicagoans brace for another day of bitter cold, relief is on the horizon with temperatures expected to climb into the 40s by early next week, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service (NWS). Today's forecast calls for "Intermittent flurries between 2pm and 4pm, then intermittent flurries with a slight chance of snow after 4pm," with highs hovering near 16 and wind chill values as low as -8. The NWS adds that tonight we can expect more intermittent flurries with lows around 6 degrees. Temperatures are to slowly start rising over the coming days, peaking at around 44 by Monday.
Despite the gradual warm-up, "a cold weather advisory will remain in effect for counties to the north and west, including Lake, McHenry, and DeKalb Counties," according to a statement obtained by NBC Chicago. Wind chills in these areas could plunge to a hazardous -20 degrees. Alicia Roman, an NBC 5 meteorologist, summarized the situation, saying, "Still bitter but better," indicating a "slow incline upwards as we dig out of this." The cold snap has proven to be difficult for residents, as it can quickly lead to frostbite on exposed skin and has had negative impacts on car batteries and plumbing systems.
Looking forward, Thursday promises more sunshine with highs near 23 degrees, though still with wind chills that can feel as cold as -9. NWS forecasts coupled with NBC 5's weather team projections suggest that Friday and Saturday will continue this warming trend, pushing temperatures up to near 24 and 30 degrees, respectively. Traffic may be impacted by conditions tonight, especially "near and east of I-55," where light snow accumulations could create slippery roads, the NWS warns.
With meteorological spring beginning on March 1 and astronomical spring kicking off with the vernal equinox on March 20, Chicagoans can soon start to enjoy more daylight—and hopefully milder weather. NBC Chicago notes that "from Feb. 25 to March 3, there's a good possibility temperatures will be above the average of 39-42 degrees," suggesting that we might be to soon leave behind the coldest spells of this winter season.
