Today Weather in Chicago: Wind chills set to drop below zero tonight as blowing snow threatens visibility
Chicago’s today weather story is less about how much snow falls and more about what the wind does to it. Scattered snow showers are expected to taper off this evening, yet gusty northwest winds keep blowing snow a concern. That combination can reduce visibility during the evening commute. The same setup also sets the stage for a sharper cold turn overnight, with wind chills expected to drop below zero early tomorrow.
Today Weather advisory map: where Winter Weather Advisories are in effect
Winter Weather Advisories remain active across a wide swath of the region, reflecting the ongoing concern tied to snow and wind rather than a single, isolated hazard.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 7 PM ET for: McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will, southern Cook, Kankakee, Lake (IN), Porter, Newton, and Jasper Counties. Northern LaPorte County has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 10 AM ET Tuesday.
What matters for travelers this evening is the near-term visibility risk: blowing snow can lead to reduced visibility during the evening commute even as scattered snow showers taper off. In practical terms, the hazard can persist after the steadiest flakes fade, because wind can keep snow moving across roadways and open areas.
Wind chills below zero: the overnight slide and a cold Tuesday
After the evening’s snow showers diminish, skies are expected to become partly cloudy early Tuesday morning. That clearing window is important because it allows temperatures to plunge into the single digits to near 10 degrees. With northwest winds still in the picture, wind chills are expected to drop below zero early tomorrow.
Tuesday stays cold. High temperatures are expected to warm only into the lower 20s Tuesday afternoon, and cloud cover is expected to increase. The net effect is a day that may look calmer than the evening commute period but still feels harsh, especially in exposed areas where wind can amplify the cold.
For readers tracking today weather as a sequence rather than a snapshot, the timeline is the main takeaway: blowing snow and reduced visibility are the immediate concern, followed closely by the below-zero wind chill risk early tomorrow.
Light snow returns, then a sharp warm-up later this week
Beyond Tuesday, the pattern described is active and fast-moving. A quick moving system may bring light snow to the area Tuesday night into early Wednesday. After that, temperatures are expected to warm to near 40 degrees Wednesday afternoon.
The warm-up strengthens late in the week. A much warmer airmass is expected to arrive late this week, with temperatures in the lower 50s on Thursday and then mid 60s Friday and Saturday.
That swing—from sub-zero wind chills early tomorrow to markedly warmer readings later in the week—creates a week where conditions can change quickly from one day to the next. For the near term, today weather remains defined by two immediate risks: visibility disruptions from blowing snow during the commute and a drop to below-zero wind chills early tomorrow.
Looking ahead, the forecast details suggest a transition from winter travel impacts to a milder stretch, but the next short-term hurdle is getting through tonight’s blowing snow and tomorrow’s early cold safely as today weather evolves hour by hour.
