Cold Weather Advisory issued as Chicago braces for weekend of wind chills double digits below zero
Chicago weather this weekend will be frigid, with wind chills pushing temperatures below zero into the double digits.
The winter weather blast begins with scattered flurries on Friday, with little to no accumulation expected. But starting Friday night, a cold front moves into the area starting between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Get the full 7-day forecast from our First Alert Weather team
The surge of cold air is coming in from Canada. That cold front brings bitter winds with it, so while the official high Saturday is 11 degrees, the wind chills will have the morning feeling like anywhere between 0 degrees and -14, depending on where you are. In fact, all day Saturday the wind chills never get about 0 degrees.
Sunday is even worse, when wind will make it feel like anywhere from -15 to -30 degrees, depending on where you are.
The National Weather Service issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the entire Chicago area and Northern Illinois, as well as Northwest Indiana, through 12 p.m. Sunday for the incoming freezing front.
The extreme cold is dangerous for anyone outside, and especially for vulnerable groups like young children, senior citizens, people with chronic illness, outdoor workers and the unhoused. Frostbite can happen in a matter of minutes, especially on extremities like fingers, toes, nose and ears. People outside are also at an elevated risk of hypothermia.
And it's arriving during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the holiday season. The Chicago Loop Alliance said they've seen foot traffic around the 1.2 million mark on State Street between Ida B. Wells and Wacker Drive, right on target for this time of year. But many people we spoke to Friday said they were taking advantage of the current temperatures to finish their holiday shopping before the cold front hits.
If you're headed out this weekend, doctors and experts say you need to take precautions for the weather, including dressing in layers and wearing clothing that wicks away sweat. Covering your head, wearing gloves to protect your fingers and covering your face will also help to prevent frostbite.
Dr. Stathis Poulakidas of Cook County Health said during cold like this, special attention must be paid to those with dementia.
"They get lost, they have significant time where they're outside in the cold, exposed, and then they end up with horrible injuries to their limbs, both arms and legs, where they end up losing those limbs because of how bad their frostbite is," he said.
Dr. Poulakidas sad if possible, those with dementia should have someone with them at all times. If that's not possible, frequent wellness checks are a must.
People experiencing homelessness are also particularly vulnerable when temperatures drop below zero. Outreach teams at Thresholds spent Friday preparing their outreach teams to help over the weekend. starting at 4 p.m., groups of six outreach workers will split into pairs and eventually cover the CTA Red Line to make sure people who are unhoused are educated about the cold snap, and also see what they need to stay safe.
"We specifically have staff who are stepping up and are willing to do overtime this weekend because of the cold weather and what that's calling for," said Jaclyn Story, program director. "We're really focusing on meeting immediate needs."
Story said her workers are willing to meet those needs whether t's on a train or in an encampment.
"So that's hand warmers, that's gloves, that's hats, that's winter coats, that's also boots. You know, we all know that, you know, our feet and our hands are the things that like will get cold the fastest," she said.
While Thresholds works year-round to provide mental health services, housing and other critical resources, Story said this weekend the focus will be on the encampments along DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and in areas in West and North Side communities.
"I think the main goal for us is whatever the individual's goal is, right? Their goal might be different than the their neighbor next to them, and so we don't want to have one blanket goal for everybody. We want to meet each individual goal differently, whatever that looks like," she said.
Friday night, they will focus on the CTA. Outreach crews will be out until midnight. Other crews will start back up early Saturday morning, and begin focusing on outdoor encampments.
Dangerous cold not stopping holiday celebrations this weekend
Frigid temperatures were freezing not the holiday spirit Friday night at Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza, where Figaro Rodriguez was busy selling clothing made from alpaca wool.
He said his booth is ready for bitterly cold temperatures hitting single digits and below zero wind chills in Chicago this weekend.
"If you get here and you realize that you weren't quite bundled up enough, we can help you with that," he said.
Christkindlmarket leaders hope visitors aren't intimidated by long lines, as they said they move quickly so visitors can enjoy indoor options and warm treats.
"Lots of things that will keep you warm even in the coldest of temperatures," said Kate Bleeker, vice president of German American Events, LLC, which hosts Christkindlmarket.
Meantime, at Giddings Plaza in Lincoln Square, Howard Strom, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, wasn't letting the frigid air freeze his celebration.
"We're up here to celebrate my birthday, and do Christmas shopping, and just have a good time. We love it in Chicago," he said. "We're ready; wearing my long underwear, so we know how to deal with it."
The menorah at Giddings Plaza is in place and ready for the first night of Hannukah on Sunday. The menorah lighting will be held Sunday at 4 p.m.
"This menorah lighting every year is very, very special," Rabbi Choni Hertz said Friday afternoon.
He and his father, Rabbi Baruch Hertz organize public outdoor menorah lightings in Lincoln Square and West Lakeview. In addition to the Giddings Plaza menorah lighting, they'll also light the menorah in West Lakeview at the corner of Lincoln and Marshfield avenues at 5:30 p.m.
Some years, the events are entirely outdoors, but this year the forecasted cold temps have prompted part of the events move indoors.
"We're going to start the lighting outside by the special iconic menorah right by the plaza, and then after a few minutes, continue with all the food and festivities by Orange Theory Fitness, right across the street," Choni said.
The rabbis said people braving the cold to celebrate the festival of lights is at the heart of the holiday's spirit.
"Cold represents sometimes you feel alienated, people feel separate, people feel stuck in their home; and the warmth of Hannukah means that nothing can deter us, nothing can obstruct us," Baruch said.
Cold weather help for Sunday's Bears game
The Chicago Bears are implementing game day measures to help fans with the cold for Sunday's matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
To help fans stay safe, battery-operated clothing will be permitted — though subject to additional security screening — and hand warmers will be available to purchase throughout the stadium. Hot chocolate, cider and coffee will be available at stands and via in-seat vendors, and some stands will offer chili as well. Blankets are permitted, and may be carried in by hand or in an approved clear bag that meets the stadium's bag policy.
Fans may not bring in cardboard to stand or sit on.
Fans are also encouraged to drink water throughout the game, because cold water dehydration is a possible.
Chicago Warming Centers
The City of Chicago operates warming centers Monday through Friday, and on weekends on in the event of severe weather. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications confirmed four of those warming centers will be open over the weekend.
Warming centers open Friday
Additionally, the following DFSS Senior Centers will be open Friday for warming: Southeast Center (1767 E. 79th St.) and Southwest Center (6117 S. Kedzie Ave.) - open 8:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. The remaining four Regional Senior Centers will be closed. All 15 Satellite Senior Centers are open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
All Chicago Public Library and Chicago Park District locations are open for people to warm up during the normal Friday operating hours, as are the City Colleges of Chicago. All Chicago Police Districts are open 24 hours for anyone needing to get warm.
- Englewood Community Service Center - 1140 West 79th Street
- Garfield Community Service Center - 10 South Kedzie Avenue
- Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center - 4314 South Cottage Grove
- North Area Community Service Center - 845 West Wilson Avenue
- South Chicago Community Service Center - 8650 South Commercial Avenue
- Trina Davila Community Service Center - 4312 West North Avenue
Warming centers open Saturday and Sunday
- Garfield Center at 10 S. Kedzie, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. each day.
- Chicago Public Library locations, open during operating hours.
- Chicago Park District locations, open during operating hours.
- Chicago Police Districts, 24 hours.