**Chicago Weather Alert: Extreme Cold Grips the City, Wind Chills Plummet to -25 Degrees**
Chicago residents woke up to bone-chilling temperatures and frigid wind chills as low as -15 on Monday morning, setting the stage for even colder weather ahead. According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, the city is in for a relentless freeze that shows no signs of easing up anytime soon.
### **In the Grip of a Cold Snap**
The entire Chicago area is under a cold weather advisory until 12 p.m. Monday, with wind chills plummeting to a bone-numbing 20 degrees below zero. The advisory will resume at 9 p.m. and extend until 12 p.m. Tuesday, when the mercury is expected to dip even further to a staggering 25 degrees below zero. At 5:30 a.m. on Monday, temperatures were recorded at -5 degrees in DeKalb, -4 degrees in Waukegan, and -3 degrees in Chicago, with O’Hare International Airport feeling like a frosty -15 due to the biting wind chills. NBC 5 Meteorologist Pete Sack issued a stark warning, urging residents to layer up against the brutal cold.
### **Cold Snap Spreads Nationwide**
The icy grip of winter isn’t limited to Chicago alone. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony in Washington D.C. was moved indoors due to cold weather advisories and dangerously cold wind chills. In Minnesota, temperatures dipped to a bone-chilling -30 degrees, prompting residents to take extra precautions like wearing suitable clothing and carrying survival kits for travel. Amtrak canceled services on multiple lines across the country due to the extreme cold, affecting regions like the Pacific Northwest, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
### **School Closures and Safety Measures**
As the cold front tightens its grip, concerns about school closures due to the frigid weather arise. The Emergency Closing Center reported that several schools, including Horizon Science Academy Belmont in Chicago, City of Hobart Schools in Indiana, and Faith Movers Academy in University Park, were scheduled to be closed on Tuesday. While Chicago Public Schools remained closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no additional closures were announced due to the cold. The National Weather Service cautioned that the plummeting temperatures could lead to rapid ice formation on rivers, potentially causing ice jams and localized flooding.
### **Looking Ahead**
Despite the biting cold, relief is on the horizon as temperatures are expected to rise slightly by Wednesday, reaching the low 20s with a chance of light snow. However, wind chills are predicted to persist in the single digits. By the weekend, the city may experience a welcome thaw, with temperatures creeping up to the mid-30s amidst intermittent snowfall, offering a glimmer of warmth after the icy ordeal.
As Chicagoans brace themselves against the relentless cold, it’s crucial to stay informed, stay safe, and look out for one another in the face of this extreme weather event. Remember to take precautions, dress warmly, and check on vulnerable neighbors to ensure everyone weathers the storm together. Stay warm, stay safe, and stay connected as we navigate this deep freeze as a community.