Feb. 14--Love may warm hearts on Valentine's Day, but the wind chill advisory in effect from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday, may put a freeze on evening sweetheart plans.
The National Weather Service said temperatures are expected to start falling about 5 p.m., with wind chill values as low as 12 degrees below zero. The winds are expected to blow in at 25 to 30 mph from the north and northwest, with wind gusts of up to 45 mph, officials said.
High wind gusts were already being reported Saturday morning, with 48 mph at O'Hare International Airport, 45 mph at Douglas Park and 33 mph in southwest suburban Tinley Park, officials said.
The expected extreme conditions has warranted officials to issue a wind chill advisory for northeast and central Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana. Wind chills are expected to fall 20 to 30 below zero, with the coldest wind chills in central Illinois, officials said.
Officials warned that frostbite is highly possible within minutes and people not wearing proper clothing could increase their risk of hypothermia.
Road conditions were treacherous Saturday, as the Illinois and Indiana State Police both reported several multiple-vehicle accidents on I-55, I-80, I-69, IL-Route 102, U.S. Route 20 and 30, said officials. Fatality was reported in the crash on IL-102, according to Illinois State Police.
On Friday, a hazardous weather advisory was issued for parts of northeast and central Illinois, as well as northwest Indiana.
Officials said for the next several days, northwest Indiana will have significant accumulating lake-effect snow starting Saturday afternoon and night. Those conditions will likely move into northeast Illinois on Sunday, officials said.
On Presidents Day in Chicago, there is a 20 percent chance of snow with a high near 23 degrees. On Tuesday, the high is expected to be near 18, with temperatures dropping overnight to 4.
Wednesday's highs may reach about 11 degrees but fall to about zero overnight.
