Break out the mittens and scarves Chicago—if the current predictions are any indication, it’s going to be a cold Thanksgiving in the Windy City!
Meteorological data suggests the infamous polar vortex phenomenon will bring a blast of arctic air our way around the holiday next week.
Here’s what the polar vortex means for Chicago and when the freezing temperatures will hit!
What is the polar vortex?
If you need a refresher, the polar vortex is an area of low pressure, cold air that always exists near the Earth’s poles, according to the NWS.
During the winter, the vortex can strengthen and expand, sending freezing bouts of air further south in the jet stream and straight towards Chicago.
The Windy City has seen numerous periods of extreme cold spurred by the phenomenon, a notable instance occurring in January of 2019 when northern Illinois saw some of its coldest temperatures in decades.
Weekend warm-up and Thanksgiving drop
Predictions from the National Weather Service indicate a mild warm-up this weekend into early next week. Daily highs will hover in the low to mid-50s from Sunday until Wednesday next week.
Come Thanksgiving on Thursday, things will be feeling a bit chillier with Time and Date predicting a high of 45 degrees for the holiday.
Polar vortex to hit late next week
The post-Thanksgiving weekend is when things really get cold as the polar vortex makes its return.
Friday’s high will reach only 41 degrees and a low of 33 degrees, according to Time and Date.
Things will only get colder from there, with a high of just 36 degrees Saturday and a low of 30 degrees, followed by similar temperatures on Sunday.
In short, be sure sure to layer up and opt for indoor activities this holiday weekend in Chicago!