ReportWire

Tag: chicago weather

  • Chicago Bear-Rams playoff game: What to know as fans face subfreezing temps at Soldier Field

    CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago fans are ready to face the brutal cold as the Bears face the LA Rams at Soldier Field on Sunday.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    It’s been a week full of excitement and energy across the city, even as fans get ready for the brutal cold.

    Forecast

    Fans can expect snow showers at kickoff for the game with temperatures in the teens and wind chills in the single digits.

    ABC7 meteorologists say it will be 17 degrees at kickoff, but the wind chill will be about 8 degrees.

    The Bears are accustomed to frigid conditions, of course, but “subfreezing weather” is barely in the vocabulary of Los Angeles residents.

    It remains to be seen just how much the Rams will be affected by the cold.

    Click here to see the chilliest games teams have played in the postseason.

    BEAR DOWN | Live updates on latest news on NFL playoff run, feel-good fan stories, small businesses and more

    A Chicago Bears fan before an wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Jan.10, 2026, in Chicago.

    AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

    Kickoff

    Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. CT at Soldier Field, and the game will air on NBC.

    Staying Warm

    If you’re headed to Soldier Field to see the game, here’s what you need to know:

    -Battery-operated clothing is permitted; however, you may be subject to additional security screening.

    -Warming centers will be located at Loop Landing (behind Section 146), on the Service Level down the southwest tunnel near the Dr Pepper Patio, NW colonnade (situated on the tiled landing at the top of the stairs by Gate 31) and on the south side of the colonnades.

    -Fans may not take cardboard to sit or stand on.

    -Blankets are allowed at Soldier Field. The stadium says fans may carry them in hand or in an approved clear bag.

    The winner of Sunday’s game will go on to the NFC Championship to face the Seahawks in Seattle.

    Chicago Bears flag after touchdown during NFL Game between Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday ,Oct. 13, 2024 in London.

    Chicago Bears flag after touchdown during NFL Game between Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday ,Oct. 13, 2024 in London.

    AP Photo/Dave Shopland

    More Soldier Field Showdown Coverage:

    –Grieving mother, son gifted Bears-Rams tickets on late-husband’s birthday

    –Chicago Bears fan goes viral as ‘Cheese Grater Guy’ during playoff win against Green Bay Packers

    –Ben Johnson not sorry for Packers rant: ‘I don’t like that team’

    –Fans rallying behind Chicago Bears with parties, food specials for Rams playoff game

    –St. Viator High School cheering on alum Cole Kmet as Chicago Bears continue playoff run

    –Chicago Bears install Caleb Williams ‘Iceman’ sculpture at Merchandise Mart

    Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    Christian Piekos

    Source link

  • Chicago weather: How our 2025-26 seasonal snowfall compares with previous years

    In Chicago, snow seasons are tracked from July through the following June. The area normally can expect 38.4 inches, according to the National Weather Service. During the 2024-25 season, the area accumulated just 17.6 inches.

    The most snow Chicago has ever received in one season was 89.7 inches during 1978-79. The least — 9.8 inches — occurred in 1920-21.

    Here’s a look back at how our current snowfall compares with previous seasons.

    Kori Rumore

    Source link

  • Arctic blast brings sub-zero wind chills to Chicago area; temps expected to drop more Saturday night

    CHICAGO (WLS) — Our coverage of this story has moved here.

    An artic blast is bringing dangerous sub-zero wind chills to the Chicago area, and temperatures will drop even more on Saturday night.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    ABC7 Chicago meteorologists have issued an AccuWeather Alert for the weekend’s bitter cold.

    The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lake (Ill.), Livingston, McHenry, Winnebago, Jasper, Lake (Ind.) and Newton counties from 8 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday.

    A Cold Weather Advisory is also impacting Wisconsin’s Waukesha County from midnight Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday.

    A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect for Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, Livingston, Jasper and Newton counties from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Saturday.

    Slippery road conditions were possible in those areas, as low temperatures could interfere with snow removal efforts, the NWS says. Wind gusts up to 25 mph could also cause snow to drift back onto roadways.

    Officials warned that frostbite can develop in minutes without the proper clothing.

    The city of Aurora will have a warming center open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. with meals available and plenty of cots for sleeping.

    READ MORE | Warming centers open in city, suburbs as bitter cold moves into Chicago area | Full list

    Snow developed in parts of the area on Saturday, but it started to stop around 3 p.m.

    Most of the accumulating snow was expected south of Interstate 80, where a couple of inches were possible.

    High temperatures on Saturday were in the lower teens with wind chills staying around -10 to -20 throughout the day.

    Sunday morning, ahead of the Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field, will be the coldest part of the weekend.

    SEE ALSO | Fans, players bracing for what could be one of coldest Bears games ever

    As the Cold Weather Advisory expires, winds may relax on Sunday afternoon, but it will still be bitterly cold. During the game, wind chills will be anywhere from -5 to -10.

    Local woman donates supplies to help those in need survive frigid temperatures

    As the temperatures get dangerously cold outside, one woman is trying to help those in need to survive the night.

    As the temperatures get dangerously cold outside, one woman is trying to help those in need to survive the night.

    She came up with donations on her own and with some help from the community as, she says, this is what she feels is right in these dangerously cold temperatures.

    Dominique McKenzie has been doing her best to help those in need for years now, but on Saturday night, it is even more important as Chicago deals with arctic weather.

    Hand warmers, gloves, blankets and other essentials went directly to individuals on Saturday night as she and her family coursed through the city delivering donations.

    “There are people who are just, you know, really trying and don’t have the resources that we have. And even when we have the resources, sometimes, we really don’t have the resources. So, it’s important for me to continuously do it,” McKenzie said.

    McKenzie runs a nonprofit called Poor Connections, which is specifically trying to help young men across Chicago learn from an influential woman like herself while also helping small business owners and others in the city.

    She says the trauma of losing her brother last year reminded her how important it is to help others.

    “I felt like that was my purpose, that was my calling with the nonprofit. And, I really wanted to reach back, and I want to reach back especially to the men and our youth and give back from a woman’s perspective,” McKenzie said.

    McKenzie says she took in donations from local businesses in Oak Forest, but much of it came out of her own pocket.

    It’s not her first time doing something like this, and she says it certainly won’t be the last time.

    “It’s cold. We’re in different times. And so, I’m just doing my part,” McKenzie said.

    If you would like to donate to the cause, you could come to 161st and Cicero in Oak Forest and drop off anything that would help those during the cold temperatures.

    Meanwhile, there is light at the end of the tunnel. A warming trend is expected next week, and temperatures may climb into the 40s by Wednesday.

    Click here for the latest seven-day forecast.

    Cook County Radar DuPage County Radar Will County Radar Lake County Radar (IL) Kane County Radar Northwest Indiana Radar


    Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    Maher Kawash

    Source link

  • Strong storms flood streets, down trees and power lines in Chicago area | LIVE RADAR

    CHICAGO (WLS) — Strong storms are bringing heavy rain and flash flooding, along with damaging winds, to the Chicago area on Monday.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    The Storm Prediction Center has much of Chicago’s North Side, as well as the northern and western suburbs, at a Level 2 risk for severe weather, with the city’s South Side and south suburbs and Northwest Indiana at a Level 1 risk for severe weather on Monday.

    Strong storms started moving into the Chicago area around 3:30 p.m. and have continued to prompt severe weather warnings into the evening hours.

    Strong storms started moving into the Chicago area around 3:30 p.m. and have continued to prompt severe weather warnings into the evening hours.

    A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Porter County until 12:15 a.m. Tuesday.

    A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Cook and Lake (IN) counties until 11:30 p.m. Monday.

    A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Will County until 11:15 p.m. Monday.

    A Flood Watch is in effect for Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lake (IL), McHenry, Winnebago, Lake (IN) and Porter counties until 4 a.m. Tuesday.

    A Tornado Warning was is in effect for Kane County until 4:30 p.m. Monday. It has since expired.

    There are ground stops at O’Hare and Midway airports due to the storms.

    Monday’s 7:05 p.m. game between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field has been postponed.

    The makeup game is scheduled as the first game of a split doubleheader Tuesday with the makeup game scheduled to begin at 1:20 p.m. The originally scheduled game on Tuesday will take place, as scheduled, at 7:05 p.m.

    A thunderstorm moving through Lockport on Monday evening made for an impressive lightning show as high winds and intense wind hit the south suburb.

    Strong storms are bringing heavy rain and flash flooding, along with damaging winds, to the Chicago area on Monday.

    Video taken off of Oneida Drive captured what an earlier round of rain left behind: inches of water covering neighborhood streets.

    And just as those floodwaters receded, another heavy round of rain, lightning and strong winds came through once again. Thunder roared in the already waterlogged area.

    And over DeKalb County, storms wreaked havoc in Genoa.

    Crews were there tending to downed power lines and branches, including a large tree that came down.

    Heavy rain in that area flooded streets and lawns as residents had their water pumps working overtime.

    The storms made their way east through Chicago, where the downtown area was hit with a downpour.

    This comes after heavy rain and flooding hit parts of the Chicago area over the weekend, with some areas getting more than 6 inches of rain.

    On Monday night, people across the Chicagoland area are hoping to dry out and assess the aftermath of this latest round of rain.

    Cook County Radar DuPage County Radar Will County Radar Lake County Radar (IL) Kane County Radar Northwest Indiana Radar


    Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    Cate Cauguiran

    Source link

  • Wednesday weather: Sunny and calm but cooler

    Wednesday weather: Sunny and calm but cooler

    by: BJ Lutz

    Posted:

    Updated:

    CHICAGO — Expect cooler-than-normal conditions across the area Wednesday.

    High pressure that moved in after Tuesday’s rainfall will bring calmer conditions and plenty of sunshine after some morning cloud cover, but a flow of the jet stream will usher in cooler air.

    Then, winds are expected to shift to a southwesterly flow by about Friday, which will ramp temperatures back up. They’re projected to be above normal, in fact, for the 6-10-day outlook.

    Lake Michigan Warning

    Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications said high waves and dangerous currents were expected at Lake Michigan beaches through Wednesday evening.

    “Not a good time for a swim, folks,” an OEMC alert said.

    BJ Lutz

    Source link

  • Chicago weather: Tornado Watch in effect for parts of area | LIVE radar

    Chicago weather: Tornado Watch in effect for parts of area | LIVE radar

    CHICAGO (WLS) — Storms brought high winds to parts of the Chicago area on Tuesday evening, and there’s still a severe weather threat overnight.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    The winds brought down a large tree in north suburban Des Plaines and kicked up large amounts of dust in some of the area’s western counties. ComEd said 12,380 customers were without power as of 10:30 p.m.

    The same system brought deadly tornadoes to parts of Iowa.

    READ MORE: Iowa tornadoes kill 1, cause major damage in Greenfield, south of Des Moines, amid severe storms

    Iowa tornadoes south of Des Moines killed 1 person and caused major damage in Adams County, amid a severe weather outbreak.

    A Tornado Watch is in effect for Boone, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, McHenry, Walworth, Kenosha and Racine counties until midnight Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

    The Storm Prediction Center had the Chicago area under a Level 3 risk for severe weather Tuesday night. Some parts of western Illinois near the Iowa border were under a Level 4 risk for severe weather with a significant tornado threat.

    The Chicago area’s severe weather threat started to diminish later Tuesday night, but we’re not out of the woods yet.

    ABC7 Chicago Meteorologist Cheryl Scott said at about 10 p.m., a line of showers and storms was moving out of Iowa and developing in western Illinois.

    The Chicago area’s severe weather threat started to diminish late Tuesday evening, but we’re not out of the woods yet.

    That system will continue to move northeast toward areas west of the city, so severe storms are still possible later Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning.

    The main threat is high, gusty winds that could reach 60 mph, and hail is also possible. An isolated tornado threat is still at play overnight.

    Those storms are expected to weaken in the early Wednesday morning hours as they move east.

    Storms kick up high winds, large amounts of dust in western counties

    Dust blowing from windy conditions ahead of storms moving into the Chicago area caused low visibility in the far west suburbs.

    And deep into western Illinois farmland in DeKalb County near Sycamore, spring storms stirred up a uniquely agricultural kind of damage on Tuesday evening.

    “The wind is blowing, and the ground has been freshly tilled, so that’s what’s been causing the dust,” said Brian Koehnke.

    A thick cloud of dust is freshly-tilled topsoil whipped into a wall of dense dirt. With the force of high winds from the west, it periodically blew in masse across acres of perfectly-lined corn.

    “You’re losing topsoil, so it’s bad,” Koehnke said. “It’s very unusual for it to happen.”

    Even in farm country, this sort of storm-brewed dust cloud is not entirely common. Silos are shrouded in soil that looked more like smog.

    The high winds came with not a single drop of rain or flash of lighting.

    Drivers slowed along State Road with the caution of fog-like visibility, and barn doors flapped with each gust, but all appeared to stand sturdy against a spring storm that weakened as it went.

    Dust storm forces section of Interstate 55 to shut down

    A dust storm forced I-55 to completely shut down at mile marker 144 near the town of McLean on Tuesday.

    Downstate, a dust storm forced a section of Interstate 55 to completely shut down earlier Tuesday.

    It happened at mile marker 144 near the town of McLean. That’s southwest of Bloomington.

    See the latest AccuWeather report

    The Illinois State Police said visibility was near zero along that stretch of road. The road is closed in both directions.

    There are detours in place, but expect delays if you are heading that way.

    Last May, eight people died after a crash on I-55 during a dust storm.

    ISP said another dust storm was later located on Interstate 74 at milepost 152 on Tuesday. I-74 has been shut down from milepost 149 to milepost 160.

    Cook County Radar | DuPage County Radar | Will County Radar | Lake County Radar (IL) | Kane County Radar | Northwest Indiana Radar

    Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    Jessica D’Onofrio

    Source link