The season’s first encounter with arctic air will jar Chicagoans with a one-two punch today and tonight—first strong winds and then near zero chills. Low pressure centered over Lake Superior will intensify as it moves east swinging a strong cold front through northeast Illinois. Winds become northwest behind the front this afternoon and strengthen to gusts possibly reaching 50 m.p.h.
Temperatures will fall out of the early morning 40s through the 30s this afternoon and the 20s tonight. Wind chills will drop into the 20s later this afternoon, the teens during the evening hours and into single digits after midnight approaching zero by Monday morning. Children should bundle up if they have to brave the elements Monday morning walking to school or waiting on a bus. Monday will be a raw day with strong northwest winds continuing and highs in the 20s with frequent snow showers. Lake effect snow accumulation is likely in northwest Indiana.
