Chicago weather: Temperatures drop dangerously low with wind chills well below zero | LIVE
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tuesday got off to a frigid start with temperatures below zero and wind chills well below zero.
Wind chills were as low as -25 in some parts of the area Tuesday, ABC7 Accuweather Meteorologist Tracy Butler said.
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Wind chills remained below zero for most of the day.
The National Weather Service issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, La Salle, Livingston, McHenry and Will counties, which expired at noon.
There is a cold advisory again in place for McHenry and DeKalb counties from midnight until 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The NWS said the dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
Despite the cold, Tuesday had plenty of sun.
There was a -5 reading at O'Hare Tuesday morning.
Warming centers are open all week across Chicago.
The frigid weather could cause ice on roads and sidewalks.
Nine semis, four passenger cars and an Indiana State Police vehicle were involved in a crash on the Indiana Toll Road on Tuesday morning, officials said.
And Illinois 59 (Hough Road), between Illinois 22 and Cuba Road in North Barrington is closed due to heavy icing.
A posted detour will direct traffic to Northwest Highway (U.S. 14) and Illinois 22. Access to residences and businesses will be maintained. Updates will be provided when the road is reopened.
The public can expect delays, and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.
People scrunched their faces close to their necks to stay warm during the morning commute Tuesday.
"I'm freezing cold, I'm grin and bearing it into the office today, one day," commuter Kathleen Neberz said.
"Normally working from home," commuter Steve Shein said. "The home office would've been nice today."
People packed on the layers to venture out in sub-zero temperatures.
"Two bundle," Neberz said. "I got a heavy coat, and a vest, hat, and cover my mouth."
"I just came back from Florida. So, I was feeling nice and warm inside, but outside is brutal," commuter Christina Nicosia said.
The extreme cold caused causing some early morning track and switching issues.
Metra had to single track between Downers Grove and La Grange because of broken rails on the BNSF Line.
Crews made emergency repairs while passengers waited for their ride in the western suburbs.
It was a packed house inside the La Grange Metra station for commuters to stay warm, as they awaited their train.
"Thankfully, the station is open, but it seems like there's dozens of people are here, and they're all waiting. So, it's going to be a crowded train," commuter Jeff Philips said.
Homeowners are also being encouraged to take precautions and ensure they have proper heating to stay safe in these frigid temperatures.
"Everybody is coming in for salt after this snow, definitely the firewood and furnace filters," said Alyssa Jurgenson, assistant manager at Ebel's Ace Hardware.
The store has plenty of the cold weather supplies, like space heaters and window insulation kits, that are in high-demand.
Like most of the area, Homewood is in a deep freeze.
The village has deployed its salt spreaders and sidewalk sweepers daily.
They have even responded to several calls about water main breaks. The south suburb had 26 of them last month.
"These cold temperatures we get, it does play a major part in water main breaks. So, we monitor that," village of Homewood Public Works Director Joshua Berman said.
As many bundle up for the arctic conditions, just trying to stay warm and safe, others, like James Franklin, are taking the weather in stride.
"This is Chicago. It's wintertime. It's supposed to be cold," Franklin said.
Wednesday is forecast to remain cold in the morning with a few flurries during the day.
Temperatures will remain in the teens for highs Wednesday.
Windchills Thursday morning and Friday morning will also be well below zero, in the -5 to -15 range.
But, a warm-up is coming this weekend, with temperatures close to 40.
