Chicago Weather: Bitter Cold Going Into Wednesday, Expect Drifting Snow

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An arctic front on the way tonight, so we can expect widespread blowing and drifting snow with high winds Tuesday night and Wednesday.

According to CBS 2 meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist, this is especially true in open, rural areas. A Winter Weather Advisory covers those counties.

Poor visibility and blowing snow along east-west roads Tuesday evening and then north-south roads overnight and Wednesday. As the front crosses our area very early in the morning, between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., snow showers and squalls may accompany the system.

Winds turn westerly behind the front and increase. We can expect gusts 40-45 mph tomorrow. Poor visibility likely from the blowing snow.

TONIGHT: Cloudy and windy with blowing snow. Low 16.

WEDNESDAY: Blowing snow. High winds and falling temperatures. Wind chills will be at zero to -7.

THURSDAY: Snow showers. Bitter cold. High 14.