CHICAGO — Bitter temperatures continued to grip the city Tuesday, and the harsh weather conditions aren't expected to let up much until Wednesday, meteorologists said.
The temperature dropped to 11 degrees below zero in some parts of Chicago in Tuesday morning, though it rose to zero in the early afternoon.
Temperatures could rise to the single digits during the day, National Weather Service meteorologist Richard Castro said. But wind chills could be as low as 18 degrees below zero in the afternoon, according to the weather service.
Chicago Public Schools canceled classes for the second day in a row, marking the fourth time CPS has called off school this month. CPS said classes would resume on Wednesday.
Also closed were the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago and the Adler Planetarium. The Lincoln Park Zoo is closing early, at 3 p.m., and some of the exhibits won't be open. A few local YMCA locations are operating with reduced hours.
Other area schools, businesses and community centers also were shuttered Tuesday morning.
The Chicago Park District's indoor programs are open for children and families.
The city extended warming center hours Monday and Tuesday; more information about the centers is available online or by calling 311.
By Tuesday morning, more than 540 flights had been canceled at O'Hare Airport, and more than 105 flights were canceled at Midway, according to the city's Aviation Department. Both airports were reporting some delays, and the city cautioned those who plan on flying to check with their airlines.
On local expressways there were a number of weather-related crashes during rush hour, though none had serious injuries, Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Jason LoCoco said.
Unlike earlier this month, when temperatures were as low as 16 degrees below zero in "Chiberia," Divvy is still operating, and public transportation appears to be running without many weather-related delays.
Though wind chills could still be as low as 17 degrees below zero, the high on Wednesday is expected to be about 22 degrees.
"So it'll feel like a heat wave," Castro said.
High temperatures are likely to stay in the 20s the rest of the week, though there's a chance of snow Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Castro said he expects about 1 to 2 inches of snow Thursday.
