If you think this past weekend was cold, wait for what’s ahead.
A strong blast of arctic air from Canada is expected to hit much of the United States this week, bringing extremely low temperatures, including the coldest air of the winter season.
Arctic winds, commonly referred to as the polar vortex, occur when the rotating air from Earth’s polar regions becomes unstable and shifts to midlatitude areas. This movement allows extremely cold air from the polar regions to escape and reach places like Chicago.
An Arctic blast will affect Chicago this week
Chicago is likely to experience its coldest temperatures of the year, with air temperatures dropping into the single digits.
NBC Chicagohas reported that a cold front moving in on Wednesday evening will push temperatures into the teens on Thursday, followed by an “Arctic blast” on Friday.
On Friday morning, temperatures will be below zero, with “feels-like” temperatures dropping as low as -35 degrees. In counties to the north and west, wind chills may reach between -35 and -40 degrees.
With these extreme temperatures, wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, so it’s important to bundle up and limit your time outside.