Extreme Cold Hits: -5 to -15 Wind Chills For Start Of Week

LAKE AND MCHENRY COUNTIES, IL — Be sure to bundle up when heading out tis morning — the week will be off to a chilly start.

Wind chill values across the Chicago area will deep below zero in the morning on Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. And the cold temperatures will stay through mid-week before we finally get a warm up on Thursday and Friday.

Here is a more detailed look at the forecast:

MONDAY: Sunny, with a high near 16. Wind chill values as low as -9. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -8. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

TUESDAY: Sunny, with a high near 14. Wind chill values as low as -12. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 2. Wind chill values as low as -6. West northwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny, with a high near 22. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny, with a high near 37.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

FRIDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

FRIDAY NIGHT: A chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9.

SUNDAY: Partly sunny, with a high near 15.

Staying Safe in Extreme Cold

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency provides these tips and reminders on how to stay safe when heading out into the extreme cold:

• Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing.
• Wear mittens instead of gloves.
• Wear water-repellent clothing.
• Wear a hat.
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
• Make sure small children, infants, and the elderly stay warm. They are more vulnerable to the cold.
• Take advantage of warming centers, public park facilities, and heated stores and malls.
• Where possible, try to keep one room in your home heated to 68-70 degrees.
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Eat high energy foods and drink warm beverages.
• Beware of overexertion; shoveling snow or pushing disabled cars can be very strenuous and should only be done by individuals in good health.

The Illinois Department of Public Health provides tips and information here on hypothermia and frostbite and how to stay safe in extreme cold.