Chicago weather: Cold February could break record set in 1876
CHICAGO (WLS) -- This month will go down as one of the coldest and snowiest Februaries in Chicago history, and it appears March will get off to a snowy start, too.
ABC7 Chief Meteorologist Jerry Taft said Friday night will be downright cold, with lows across the Chicago area ranging from -6 to 2 degrees, and wind chills near -10.
The weekend will start off dry, but snow will develop after midnight on Saturday and continue through Sunday. Anywhere from 2 to 3 inches of accumulation is possible across the Chicago area, with the highest amounts in Kankakee and Will counties.
"Some areas up to the north will even see less than that, with about an inch up to the north, and some areas south may see closer to 4 inches," Taft said.
Several inches of lake-effect snow on Thursday brought this month's total accumulation to 29 inches, making it the third snowiest February on record. So far this winter, 43.2 inches of snow has fallen in Chicago.
This month could potentially be the coldest February on record in Chicago, Taft said. The average temperature so far in February has been 15.2 degrees, and with two more bitter cold days left in the month, it may break the 1876 record of 14.6 degrees.
While March is just around the corner, it looks and feels like winter is here to stay a while.
"I'm getting used to it. That's kind of pathetic that I'm getting used to below-zero temperatures," said Kayvon Kashani-Gharavi.
And many people are looking for an escape, according to Nish Patel at Mayflower Tours in Downers Grove. He says this is a usually a busy time of year, but throw in a longer winter, and it gets even busier.
"The good news is, with the weather like this, if people are on the fence about making a decision, they are getting off the fence," Patel said.
But not everyone is trying to get out of dodge - some Chicagoans are embracing the cold weather.
VIDEO: West Town bar turns patio into curling rink
A group of software employees gathered Friday at Kaiser Tiger in West Town. The local watering hole has turned their outdoor patio into a curling rink.
And for some Chicago workers, heading indoors doesn't even provide an escape from the cold. At Preferred Freezer Services in Chicago, it's cold inside their temperature-controlled warehouse 365 days a year.
"I can handle it more than other people, I guess," said Juan Rangel, an employee.
Preferred Freezer Services workers experience temperatures from 34 to -20 degrees. Needless to say, their perspective on cold weather is vastly different than the rest of us.
"This is not even cold outside. You're in here for 12-hour shifts, eight hours, whatever. We get used to this," said Chino Ortiz, another employee.
Lucky for them, it's very rare people work inside the -20 degree freezer - it's all automated.
