DOWNTOWN — The extreme cold Tuesday is expected to break records.
The day will be sunny, but it is only expected to get as warm as 20 degrees in Chicago — the chilliest high temperature in the city’s recorded history for Nov. 12. Previously, the record was 28 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The city already broke a record for the day’s low temperature, as it hit 7 degrees — one degree cooler than the record of 8 degrees set in 1986, according to the National Weather Service.
And the wind chill will make it feel even colder, as the National Weather Service warned the wind chill had gone eight degrees below zero in the morning.
For comparison, even Siberia is warmer than Chicago today: Novosibirsk, Siberia’s capital, expected to have a high temperature of 21 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Juneau, Alaska, is even warmer as it will hit 41 degrees.
Chicago’s extreme cold can cause frostbite and hypothermia, which can prove deadly.
Hypothermia happens when someone has been exposed to the cold and he or she starts losing body heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, slurred speech and drowsiness are symptoms of hypothermia.
People might not aware they’re suffering from frostbite because the damaged tissue becomes numb, the CDC warned, but redness or pain in the skin is a sign of frostbite, as is white or grayish-yellow skin and skin that feels “unusually firm or waxy.”
People who are older, babies in cold rooms, those drinking alcohol or using drugs and those who stay outside for long periods — including people who are homeless — are all at a high risk for hypothermia and frostbite, according to the CDC.
Those showing signs of frostbite or hypothermia should get medical attention as soon as possible, seek a warm shelter, take off wet clothing and warm themselves under layers of blankets and clothing, according to the CDC. Skin that has been frostbitten can be placed in warm — but not hot — water.
The National Weather Service advised those who have to venture outside to wear a warm hat, three or more layers on their upper body, two or more layers on their lower body, a face mask, gloves and boots.
The city also has warming centers open. Here’s a list of locations.
The cold comes just a day after a record-breaking snow hit the city Monday. About 3.4 inches of snow fell at O’Hare Airport, the most Chicago’s ever received on Veterans Day. The previous record-holder was 1995, when 1.9 inches of snow fell on the city.
Temperatures will stick to the high 20s Wednesday, when snow is also possible. After that, the city will warm up a bit: A high of 34 degrees is predicted for Thursday, while Friday could hit 37 degrees.