Brutal cold snap grips region with coldest temperatures expected overnight Monday

The coldest temperatures in an arctic blast moving through the Chicago area are expected overnight into Tuesday.

Wind chills were predicted to plummet to nearly 30 degrees below zero Monday night into Tuesday in a brutal cold snap that is expected to last until Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

Weather officials issued a cold weather advisory starting Monday night that was set to last until noon Tuesday.

The day-time high Monday reached 14 degrees, but heavy gusts up to 25 mph created wind chills as low as minus 19.

Residents are advised to limit their time outdoors and to keep blankets and jumper cables in their cars if they need to travel.

"For those that do have to spend time outside, make sure you always have a hat to stay dry [and] especially cover your mouth to protect your lungs from bringing in the extreme cold air," said Todd Kluber, a meteorologist with the weather service.

Monday's chill comes 40 years after Chicago recorded its lowest temperature and wind chill in history. On Jan. 20, 1985, the temperature at O'Hare International Airport dropped to minus 27 degrees, accompanied by wind chills that were 57 degrees below zero.

Kluber said the subzero temperatures currently gripping the city aren't particularly remarkable, given that Chicago typically sees a stretch of subzero temperatures at least once a year.

Dating back to 1872, Chicago has only had 14 years where subzero temperatures weren’t recorded at some point, according to the weather service.

Conditions on Tuesday will be frigid, with a high of around 3 degrees and wind chills dropping as low as minus 30. The cold snap is expected to continue until Wednesday, when temperatures will rise into the low 20s.

Chicago warming centers

The city will open warming centers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Other facilities, such as libraries, also serve as warming centers and sometimes have different or longer hours. The following centers will be open beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday:

• Garfield Community Service Center
  10 S. Kedzie Ave.
  (312) 746-5400
• Englewood Community Service Center
  1140 W. 79th St
  (312) 747-0200
• Martin Luther King Community Service Center
  4314 S. Cottage Grove
  (312) 747-2300
• North Area Community Service Center
  845 W. Wilson Ave.
  (312) 744-2580
• South Chicago Community Service Center
  8650 S. Commercial Ave.
  (312) 747-0500
• Trina Davila Community Service Center
  4312 W. North Ave.
  (312) 744-2014

Cook County will keep three courthouse warming centers open continuously until Wednesday afternoon:

• Skokie Courthouse: 5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie
• Maywood Courthouse: 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood
• Markham Courthouse: 16501 S. Kedzie Ave., Markham

The Salvation Army’s Freedom Center in Humboldt Park, 825 N. Christiana Ave., will also be open 24 hours as a warming shelter throughout the week. The organization also runs the 24-hour Shuttle of Hope, which works with the city’s 311 call center to transport people to shelters.

Tips to stay warm

Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications has also provided several tips for people to stay warm:

• Motorists should take extra precautions to winterize vehicles and have necessary supplies while on the go. Keep in mind, disabled vehicles or distracted driving can cause accidents, impact traffic and impede responders heading to emergencies.
• Residents should know the signs and care of frostbite and hypothermia. For winter preparation information visit, Chicago.gov/OEMC for details and links to other local, state and federal resources.
• Wear several layers of loose, warm clothes.
• Keep head, hands and feet covered when outdoors.
• Stay dry because moisture can reduce the insulation effectiveness of clothing.
• Pay extra attention to daily needs: get enough sleep, eat high-energy foods, drink warm beverages to keep the body warm and avoid alcoholic beverages.
• Keep pets indoors as much as possible during bitter, numbing cold.