The National Weather Service is warning of a “strong Arctic front” headed to the Chicago area Wednesday night, with gusty snow showers during the evening commute and “bursts” of snow possible ahead of an extreme cold watch that will send temperatures plummeting below zero.
“Be prepared for a possible 1-2 hr burst of snow and hazardous travel conditions,” the NWS wrote Wednesday morning in a post on X. “Strong west winds to 40+ mph may lead to blowing/drifting snow in open areas overnight where snow falls.”
A strong Arctic front will bring a period of gusty snow showers this evening. Be prepared for a possible 1-2 hr burst of snow and hazardous travel conditions. Strong west winds to 40+ mph may lead to blowing/drifting snow in open areas overnight where snow falls. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/M9vvMBS4Gg
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 21, 2026The Chicago-area conditions come as forecasters warn of a “potentially catastrophic” winter storm set to move across Texas and the Carolinas, and into the East Coast this week and weekend.
As the round of snow and cold moves in Illinois, here’s what to expect and when
When, and how much snow?
Scattered snow showers were expected to begin in Chicago’s far western counties about 4 p.m., the NBC 5 Storm Team said, gradually moving into the city through midnight as they “sweep across the entire area from east to west.”
By about 7 p.m., the snow will hit the city and northwest Indiana, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
Brief periods of very low visibility and snow-covered roads were possible, the NWS added.
According to Roman, Wednesday’s system could bring about one to two inches of accumulation.
When the extreme cold will hit
Wednesday’s high temperature of 32 degrees won’t last long, Roman said, as temperatures will nosedive into the 20s Thursday.
Overnight and into Friday morning, “dangerous cold” will settle into the region, the NWS said, with air temperatures between -5 and -15 degrees. Wind chills, Roman said, will make it feel like -35.
“When you see a wind chill down to -30, -35, frostbite can set in in as little as 10 minutes,” Roman warned.
The coldest part of the day will be between 3 a.m. and 12 p.m. Friday. At that time, an extreme cold watch will be in effect, with a high of zero degrees. Such temperatures and wind chills have forced dozens of school closures in previous years.
Frigid conditions are expected to last all day Friday, the NWS said, with some areas remaining below zero.
According to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes, the record low for Friday is -4 degrees, set in 1963. The record low for Saturday is -2, set in 1904.
“If we drop to -8° Friday morning, it would be the fifth time in the last seven years to get that cold.” Jeanes said. The last time was Jan. 21, 2025, at -8 degrees.
“If we don’t reach 2 degrees Friday afternoon, it would be the coldest day since December 23, 2022,” Jeanes said, when the temperature was -1. “Only 10 days in the last 40 years have had a high temperature of 0 degrees or colder.”
How long will it last, and when does winter end?
Dangerously cold wind chills are likely through Saturday morning, the NWS said, with air temperatures between -5 and -14 expected Friday night.
By Saturday, high temperatures between 2 and 10 degrees were expected. Sunday’s predicted high was 15 degrees.
As for when the season ends, meteorological winter runs through Feb. 28. Astronomical winter, which follows the calendar year, ends March 19, with the spring equinox taking place Friday, March 20.
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