CHICAGO — An arctic blast will hit Chicago next week — with the bitter cold expected to continue through Christmas.
The rest of this week could see snow and chilly temperatures, with most days expect to be in the 20s and 30s, according to the National Weather Service. That’s about average for Chicago at this time of year.
But the weather is expected to drastically change and temperatures fall next week as an Arctic blast hits.
“If current forecasts pan out, then we will see temps MUCH colder than those normal highs & lows,” the weather agency wrote in a tweet.
“Very cold air” could hit Chicago, with the coldest weather expected to come in the days before Christmas on Dec. 25, according to the National Weather Service. It could stick around through the holiday.
The agency’s temperature outlook for Dec. 20-26 says there is at least an 80 percent chance Chicago and much of the Midwest sill see below-average temperatures.
Tuesday could be the last day for Chicagoans to safely spend time outside before rain and the cold hits, according to the weather agency.