Freezing temperatures persist to start the weekend – NBC Chicago

A bitterly cold start to the weekend awaits the Chicago area, with little relief on the way as parts of Illinois brace for a snowstorm to close out the weekend.

However, as with the majority of the Chicago area, extremely cold and dry conditions are expected Saturday, with mid-morning temperatures only in the single digits.

Although skies are expected to remain mostly sunny for much of the day Saturday, maximum temperatures are only expected to reach the high 20s.

Low temperatures will fall back into the teens before another cold day Sunday, this time with overcast skies expected to dominate for much of the day.

Those spending time outdoors Saturday should also prepare for windy conditions, with gusts reaching 20 miles per hour.

High temperatures on Sunday are still only expected to reach the mid 20s, with the possibility of a few snow showers developing in the area Sunday evening into Monday morning.

Monday’s possible snowfall is different from a massive snowstorm expected to upend the Central Plains, including parts of upstate Illinois, earlier in the weekend.

This system will extend from Kansas to Maryland, with possible accumulations of up to a foot of snow in parts of west-central Illinois.

As for the Chicago area, cold temperatures persist after snowfall eases Monday, with dry conditions and temperatures in the 20s for much of the next week.