Temperature drops below zero in Chicago for first time in nearly a year

The official reading at O’Hare International Airport hit minus-1 at 8 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Saturday, the weather service expects freezing rain to create hazardous driving conditions in the greater Chicago area.

SHARE Temperature drops below zero in Chicago for first time in nearly a year
Ice forms on the lakefront trail as steam rises from buildings that make up the Chicago skyline. Temperatures dipped to -1 °F Friday morning.

Ice forms on the lakefront trail as steam rises from buildings that make up the Chicago skyline. Temperatures dipped to -1 °F Friday morning.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

The Chicago area saw its first below-zero temperatures in almost a year on Friday morning.

The official reading at O’Hare Airport hit minus-1 degrees at 8 a.m., the first time the temperature has been below zero since Feb. 14, when it got down to minus-5, according to the National Weather Service.

Chicago typically logs about eight mornings each year with lows below zero. 

La Voz Sidebar

Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago, la sección bilingüe del Sun-Times.
la-voz-cover-photo-2.png

A wind chill advisory was issued and stayed in effect until 9 a.m. Skies were mostly sunny, and temperatures stayed in the teens across the region.

Sunny skies are expected Saturday morning, and high temperatures for the day will reach about 32 degrees.

But things will turn by early Saturday afternoon, with the National Weather Service issuing a winter weather advisory, in effect from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Freezing drizzle or rain is expected, with ice accumulations of up to one-tenth of an inch.

The advisory covers includes northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. Travel could become difficult, and motorists are especially warned to beware of slick, icy pavement on bridges and overpasses.

Weather.jpeg

The Latest
For the first time since 2019, the water taxi will offer daily service between Ogilvie and Union stations, Michigan Avenue and Chinatown.
Busch found an unconventional way to score in the loss to the Rangers.
The acquisition of Tamarack Farms makes Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge a more impactful destination and creates within Hackmatack a major macrosite for conservation.
The man was found unresponsive in an alley in the 10700 block of South Lowe Avenue, police said.
The man suffered head trauma and was pronounced dead at University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.