As Chicagoans brush off the snow from the latest flurry, the city braces for a continuing wintry mix early into the week; the National Weather Service's recent forecast unrolls a cold carpet of snow, breezes, and grey skies ahead. Today's snowfall, primarily expected before 10 a.m., brings less than half an inch to Chicago streets, but with gusty winds reaching up to 35 mph, the possibility of blowing snow before 3 p.m. can't be ignored, residents should take note as they plan their commutes, according to the NWS. Tonight, the city gets a brief respite with partly cloudy skies and a low hovering around 17 degrees, albeit with northwest winds up to 15 mph to chill the bones.
Looking to Monday, the calm before the storm won't last long, snow is anticipated after noon, making it a near certainty with a 90% chance. Residents should expect 1 to 2 inches of fresh powder -- a potentially precarious setup for rush hour traffic. Those with evening plans may wish to leave extra time or consider alternative transportation options. Monday night doesn't relent, promising more snow before midnight and a potential accumulation of 1 to 3 inches, ensuring that shovels and snow blowers will remain close at hand, Fox 32 reports.
As the week progresses, Tuesday's forecast hints at a slice of sky with partly sunny conditions and a high near 26 degrees, but as the night draws in, the clouds close ranks once more, setting a low around 18 degrees. The week's weather narrative swings between brief interludes of sun and an ongoing scrimmage with snow; Wednesday offers a 30 percent chance of snow come afternoon, yet, even with the clouds overhead, temperatures will chase the freezing mark at 33 degrees, promising a literal lukewarm reception to any plans of warming up.
The latter part of the week holds a weather pattern as steady as a metronome; Thursday's high plummets to a frigid 16 degrees under a mostly sunny veneer, a thin veil against the biting cold, that night, thermometers could dip to around 4 degrees -- optimism in meteorological forecasting seems to be in short supply. Friday renews the possibility of snow under partly sunny skies, with a high creeping up to 23 degrees, completing a week emblematic of Chicago's winter's capricious temperament with snow, wind, and the cold stitching through the fabric of the city's daily hustle.
