Coldest night of the season: Single-digit temperatures with wind chills as low as 30 below

Tatyana Turner, Chicago Tribune
·3 min read

First came the snow, and then the cold.

Forecasters had been calling for the coldest temps Chicagoland has seen all winter — and the weather overnight delivered. In the far western suburbs, in places such as Dixon and DeKalb, the temperature felt like 30 below with the wind chill factor early Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

About 6 p.m. Tuesday, wind chills were expected to be about 10 below zero, according to Kevin Doom, a meteorologist with the weather service.

“And it’ll only get colder from there,” Doom said. “Around sunrise (Wednesday), which is traditionally when we see the coldest temperatures of the day, we’ll see wind chills from around 20 below near the city to as low as around 25 below zero in some outlying areas.”

The cold comes on the heels of nearly 6 inches of snow that fell between Sunday and Monday.

The actual low temperature on Wednesday will be in the single digits, according to Doom. The high might reach 10 degrees.

Fortunately, temperatures were expected to rebound quickly and by Thursday could reach the low 30s.

The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security provided a list of precautions to help residents protect themselves and their families during the extremely cold days.

The agency emphasized the need to follow these tips for getting through a harsh winter:

  • Never use your oven for heat.

  • Never bring charcoal or gas grills indoors (they are a carbon monoxide hazard).

  • Make sure all portable heaters are unplugged when not in use.

  • Use electric space heaters with extreme caution — avoid placing them near curtains or other flammable materials and turn them off before going to bed.

  • Keep heat at adequate levels or leave faucets open with a slight drip to prevent pipes from freezing.

  • Keep moving. Your body generates its own heat when you engage in physical activities.

For residents who need to seek shelter from the bitter cold, EMRS has a list of warming centers on its website. It is recommended to call ahead of time to verify the hours of operation.

Many suburbs also have warming centers. The Evanston Health and Human Services Department, for example, provided a list of centers that will be available to residents on Tuesday and Wednesday. Masks are required to be worn at all times.

The Health and Human Services Department will be partnering with agencies such as Connections for the Homeless and Interfaith Action to help provide overnight shelter accommodations for those who need them.

And the department’s list of precautions for people who must venture out into the bitter cold applies to anyone regardless of where they live:

  • Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wool offers good protection from extreme cold and moisture.

  • Don’t forget to wear a hat, gloves and scarf. In extreme cold, frostbite can occur within 60 seconds or less. Make sure to cover all exposed skin.

  • Wear waterproof boots or sturdy shoes that provide maximum traction.

  • Restrict outdoor exposure for infants, children and pets.

  • Keep your cellphone charged in case of emergency.

  • Seek medical attention if you notice symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite, such as skin stiffness, slurred speech, slow heartbeat, drowsiness, weak pulse or slow or shallow breathing.