Bitter cold and harsh wind chills are expected to linger in the Chicago area through Saturday after a storm that dropped 3 inches of snow on the city Thursday night.
The snow stopped late Thursday night, with total recorded snowfall at O’Hare International Airport coming it at 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
A wind chill advisory remains in effect until noon Friday, and another will be in effect from 6 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday, according to the weather service.
The weather has prompted airlines at O’Hare International Airport to cancel 135 flights as of 8 a.m. Friday, and other flights are operating with “minor delays,” according to the city Department of Aviation.
At Midway Airport, airlines were reporting minor cancellations and delays, officials said.
Wind chills were expected to dip between 20 and 25 degrees below zero Friday morning and between 20 and 30 degrees below zero overnight into Saturday, according to the weather service. People should bundle up and take precautions, and bring all pets inside.
In addition to Chicago Public Schools, many other districts in the suburbs called off classes Wednesday and Thursday but most were back in session Friday.
Friday will be mostly sunny and cold with the temperature holding steady around 3 degrees, according to the weather service, with wind chill values as low as 20 below.
Those expected temperatures prompted closures across forest preserve sites in Cook County, according to a statement from the Forest Preserve District. Nine sledding hills, five snowmobiling sites and the cross country skiing location in Lemont will be closed Friday, the statement said. Check http://fpdcc.com/preserves-and-trails/construction-closures-work/ for locations.
Saturday will be warmer with a high near 13, and Sunday will see a high about 27 degrees.
