Chicago area residents are urged to stay indoors and dress in layers ahead of bitter temperatures at the end of this week, Chicago and Cook County officials said.
Temperatures are expected to drop on Thursday night below zero and remain there throughout the day on Friday into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
A hazardous weather outlook issued Tuesday will remain in effect through Monday.
"Don't spend time outdoors unless you have to," said Gino Izzi, senior meteorologist at the weather service. "If you have to spend time outdoors, you're going to want to wear a lot of layers, multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing. The more layers you put on between yourself and the outside is better."
Meanwhile, before the colder temperatures roll in at the end of the week, Izzi said a system that could blanket the Chicago area with 1 to 2 inches of snow will move through Tuesday night but end before rush hour Wednesday.
The north suburbs could see heavier snowfall, while the south suburbs could see lighter amounts, Izzi said.
Snow will lead to hazardous travel conditions for part of the area late evening-early WED AM. A cold front then moves through WED evening bringing snow showers and gusty winds to 35 mph which may cause blowing and drifting snow. Dangerous cold then returns late week. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/vCrWZsL4tX
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 20, 2026
On Wednesday, temperatures could get up into the 20s, with some areas getting up to 30 degrees. While these temperatures aren't warm, Izzi said Wednesday has the potential to be the warmest for a while.
Izzi didn't rule out the potential for lingering snow showers or snow squalls Wednesday evening as temperatures drop into the teens.
A deep freeze will set in Thursday. On Friday, the air temperature is not expected to get above zero, while the wind chill is expected to plummet, said Izzi.
"This looks noteworthy, impressive and unusual," Izzi said, "but not unprecedented or probably not record-breaking."
