Extreme Cold in Illinois, December 22 to 24, 2022

Name: Extreme Cold in Illinois, December 22 to 24, 2022
Start: 2022-12-22T16:00
End: 2022-12-24T10:00
Location: Illinois

December 22 to 24, 2022 · NWS LOT · 22 events in 22 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 22 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 22

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LOT wrote it up.

An arctic cold front moved across northern Illinois during the late morning and afternoon of December 22nd. Temperatures were in the lower to middle 30s ahead of the front and fell into the single digits within hours after the cold front passed. Low temperatures by the morning of December 23rd ranged from 5 below to 12 below zero. High temperatures on December 23rd remained in the low single digits below zero. Winds gusted as high as 55 mph through the morning of December 23rd and continued gusting to 40 mph through the evening of December 23rd. The combination of strong winds and sub zero temperatures produced wind chills between 30 below and 42 below zero. While temperatures slowly warmed to near zero by the morning of December 24th, winds continued gusting to 35 mph. Wind chills finally warmed above 20 below zero by the late morning of December 24th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 22, 3:25 PM CST, 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 22, 3:25 PM CST, 35 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 22, 4:26 AM CST, 11 hours 34 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
426 AM CST Thu Dec 22 2022

ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-231030-
Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage-
La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford-
Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will-
Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
426 AM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 /526 AM EST Thu Dec 22 2022/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Central
Illinois...Northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Significant Snow Risk this afternoon and evening.
  Significant Blowing Snow Risk tonight.
  Significant Excessive Cold Risk tonight.
  Elevated Non Thunderstorm Wind Risk tonight.

DISCUSSION...

Dangerous travel conditions are expected to quickly develop late
this morning through this afternoon as snow spreads over the area
and temperatures plummet behind a powerful Arctic front. Icy
road conditions will create very hazardous travel by mid to late
afternoon. Blowing and drifting snow due to strong west winds will
also create hazardous conditions late this afternoon and tonight.
Near blizzard conditions are possible tonight, especially in open
areas.

Temperatures will rapidly fall this afternoon, with sub-zero
temperatures expected for much of the area by early evening and
wind chill values of 30 to 40 below zero late tonight into Friday
morning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Friday...
  Significant Excessive Cold Risk.
  Elevated Non Thunderstorm Wind Risk.
  Significant Blowing Snow Risk.
  Limited Snow Risk.
Saturday...
  Elevated Excessive Cold Risk.
  Elevated Blowing Snow Risk.
  Limited Non Thunderstorm Wind Risk.
  Limited Ice Jam Flood Risk.
Sunday...
  Elevated Excessive Cold Risk.
  Limited Ice Jam Flood Risk.
Monday and Tuesday...
  Limited Ice Jam Flood Risk

DISCUSSION:

Dangerous travel conditions are expected to continue through
Friday night due to a combination of falling snow and blowing
snow and bitterly cold temperatures. Near blizzard conditions are
possible Friday and Friday night, especially in open areas.
Conditions may become life threatening for anyone who becomes
stranded.

Very strong winds Friday may result in some tree damage and power
outages. Dangerously low wind chills are expected Friday through
Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotter activation will not be necessary through tonight.

LMZ740>745-231030-
Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL-
Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island IL-
Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor IL-
Calumet Harbor IL to Gary IN-Gary to Burns Harbor IN-
Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN-
426 AM CST Thu Dec 22 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Illinois
nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and the Indiana nearshore
waters of Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Gale force winds and very hazardous waves late afternoon
   and evening.
  Storm force winds and very hazardous waves late tonight.
  Significant Freezing Spray Risk tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Friday...
  Storm force winds and very hazardous waves.
  Significant Freezing Spray Risk.
Saturday...
  Gale force winds and very hazardous waves are likely.
  Significant Freezing Spray Risk.
Sunday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.
  Limited Freezing Spray Risk.

Kluber

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Winnebago

When: December 22, 4:00 PM CST to December 24, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.336, -89.161 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Boone

When: December 22, 4:00 PM CST to December 24, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.323, -88.823 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, McHenry

When: December 22, 4:00 PM CST to December 24, 10:00 AM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.324, -88.452 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, De Kalb

When: December 22, 7:00 PM CST to December 24, 10:00 AM CST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.894, -88.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kane

When: December 22, 7:00 PM CST to December 24, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Kane forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.939, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Ogle

When: December 22, 8:00 PM CST to December 24, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Ogle forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.043, -89.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lee

When: December 22, 8:00 PM CST to December 24, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.746, -89.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, La Salle

When: December 22, 8:00 PM CST to December 24, 8:00 AM CST
Where: La Salle forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.344, -88.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kendall

When: December 22, 8:00 PM CST to December 24, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Kendall forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.591, -88.429 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Grundy

When: December 22, 8:00 PM CST to December 24, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.285, -88.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Livingston

When: December 22, 8:00 PM CST to December 24, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.892, -88.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Ford

When: December 22, 8:00 PM CST to December 24, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Ford forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.597, -88.223 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lake

When: December 22, 9:00 PM CST to December 24, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.349, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Iroquois

When: December 22, 9:00 PM CST to December 24, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Iroquois forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 40.747, -87.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Du Page

When: December 22, 9:00 PM CST to December 24, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Du Page forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.852, -88.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Northern Will County

When: December 22, 9:00 PM CST to December 24, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Will County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.445, -87.979 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kankakee

When: December 22, 10:00 PM CST to December 24, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Kankakee forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.138, -87.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Southern Will County

When: December 22, 10:00 PM CST to December 24, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Will County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.445, -87.979 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Northern Cook County

When: December 23, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Cook County forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.895, -87.646 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Central Cook County

When: December 23, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Central Cook County forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.895, -87.646 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Southern Cook County

When: December 23, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Cook County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.895, -87.646 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Eastern Will County

When: December 23, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Eastern Will County forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.445, -87.979 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, December 2022

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1069304, 1070079, 1070080, 1070084, 1070085, 1070082, 1070083, 1070086, 1070087, 1070088, 1070089, 1070090, 1070081, 1070091, 1070094, 1070097, 1070092, 1070099, 1070093, 1070095, 1070096, 1070098.