Cold Snap To Linger Until The Weekend
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago area has a frigid week ahead, with temperatures not expected to climb out of the 20s until Saturday, except a brief chance of flirting with 30 on Wednesday.
Early Monday, the mercury dipped to a low of 11 at O'Hare shortly before 7 a.m. Add in the wind, and it felt as cold as 3 below zero.
Though that's likely to be the coldest it will get this week, overnight temperatures will be no better than the high teens, and Wednesday's expected high of 30 will be the best you can expect until Saturday, when the mercury should hit 38 degrees, and then up to 43 on Sunday.
With temperatures 15 to 25 degrees below normal for most of this week, Chicago will flirt with some long-standing records for cold.
The coldest high temperature ever seen on Nov. 17 was 14 degrees, set in 1959. While Monday's temperature already surpassed that, hitting 15 degrees at O'Hare shortly before 9 a.m., Tuesday could break an even older record. The coldest high temperature for Nov. 18 was 22 degrees in 1903, and Tuesday's high might be only 20 degrees.
Overnight Monday into Early Tuesday, temperatures should reach about 10 degrees. The record low for Nov. 18 was 8 degrees, set in 1880.
While Chicago was being spared any significant snowfall, the eastern shore of Lake Michigan is being pounded with lake-effect snow, which could end up being measured in terms of feet in some areas.
Even when complaining about this January-like weather in mid-November, Chicagoans found ways to smile or laugh.
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Clare Westley said she's not a big fan of this cold snap, but she's taking it in stride.
"My birthday's tomorrow, and it has never been this cold, or snowing. It's crazy, but you know, we do live in Chicago. … I mean, we had a miracle yesterday. The Bears won," she said. "If it means not a bad winter after this, snow-wise, I'm good. You can bundle up."
Despite the frigid temperatures, Tommy Stratton was bearing a smile and positive attitude.
"I like it. Very nice. It works for me. It wakes you up in the morning," he said.
