Chicago winter has unofficially arrived, as strong winds hitting the area Wednesday night coupled with frigid temperatures will have much of the area feeling like it’s nearly 0 degrees.
A wind advisory, which is issued when gusts exceed 45 mph, was in effect in Chicago until midnight Wednesday.
Wind gusts were steadily in the 50- to 60-mph range across the city and suburbs Wednesday evening, with gusts at Midway Airport topping out at 58 mph, the National Weather Service said.
🚨Wind advisory remains in effect. We’ve had several recorded gusts of 50-60 mph behind the cold front, including 58 mph at both Midway & Aurora Airports. While it will remain windy all night, occasional wind gusts over 50 mph are only expected for another hour or 2. #ilwx #inwx
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) December 5, 2024
Although the winds were expected to subside a bit by Thursday morning, “It’s going to be windy and very cold when people wake up,” National Weather Service meteorologist Casey Sullivan said.
Combined with wind chills, Thursday morning in Chicago could feel like around 0 to 5 degrees, and in the suburbs around minus 5 to minus 10 degrees, Sullivan said.
Narrow bands of snow showers are rotating south into/across portions of northern IL. While most areas are dry, anywhere under one of these narrow snow bands will experience sharply lower visibility in wind whipped snow. Snow could cover the pavement in spots causing slick travel. pic.twitter.com/WNyR2p42qt
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) December 5, 2024
The cold snap has led to one death in Cook County. A 77-year-old man died of hypothermia about 10 a.m. Tuesday in East Garfield Park, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which ruled his death an accident.
As of 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, at least 215 flights at O’Hare Airport and 29 flights at Midway Airport had been delayed. Five flights at O’Hare and one flight at Midway were canceled.
A few snow flurries were forecast around the region Wednesday night, but no substantial precipitation was expected throughout the rest of the week.
“It’s going to be pretty chilly here for the end of the week, and then we start to warm up this weekend — 40s on Saturday, maybe 50 on Sunday,” Sullivan said.
City officials have made more than 190 facilities available for anyone to visit to stay warm. That includes the city’s five warming centers, which open when the temperature drops below 32 degrees. The warming centers are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The following warming centers will be open Thursday and Friday:
- Englewood Community Service Center, 1140 W. 79th St.
- Garfield Community Service Center, 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
- North Area Community Service Center, 845 W. Wilson Ave.
- South Chicago Community Service Center, 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
- Trina Davila Community Service Center, 4312 W. North Ave.
- Chicago Public Library locations, except the Bucktown/Wicker Park and Water Works locations
- Chicago Park District locations
- Chicago Police Districts