Arctic Conditions Break Feb. 19 Record For Cold In Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago set a new record for cold early Thursday, as temperatures plunged well below zero.
Around 6:20 a.m., the temperature at O'Hare National Airport dropped to 8 below zero, breaking the previous Feb. 19 record of 7 below, set in 1936, according to the National Weather Service.
A wind chill advisory already was in effect for virtually all of Illinois and Indiana, until noon Chicago time on Thursday. Wind chills reached as low as 17 below zero at O'Hare overnight, and the National Weather Service said gusting winds could make it feel as cold as 30 below in some areas.
Such extreme cold can cause frostbite to set in within a matter of minutes if skin is left exposed. Extended exposure to the extreme cold increases the risk of hypothermia if proper clothing is not worn.
RELATED: Latest Conditions | NWS Advisory | School Closings | Chicago Plow Tracker | Flight Delays | Traffic Conditions | Metra Service Alerts | CTA Status Updates | Submit Photos/Video
The frigid conditions have prompted Chicago Public Schools and most other local school districts to cancel classes for Thursday. Several other school districts were starting classes late – in some cases, up to three hours later than normal – so students would not have to travel to school amid the coldest temperatures of the day.
Commuting to school or work on a day like this can be especially rough for people who rely on public transportation.
First, you have to stand outside to wait for your bus or train, and then hope it's on time.
If you take public transportation, the best advice is to regularly check online to see if your train or bus is delayed. The last thing you want to do is stand out in the bitter cold for longer than you have to.
Podcast
The CTA has bus and train trackers that provide up-to-the-minute information online, showing how long you can expect to wait at your stop. Metra doesn't have a similar tracking system, but regularly posts service advisories on its website, notifying commuters of significant service interruptions.
Metra and the CTA both have track and switch heaters to keep them from freezing and locking in such frigid conditions. Extra crews also were working to keep trains and buses running properly.
The CTA was not reporting any significant service disruptions. Metra Electric District line trains were running with significant delays because of wire problems on the South Side Thursday morning. Inbound and outbound trains were only using two tracks because of wire problems near 67th Street, causing "extensive delays," according to a service alert on Metra's website.
It was not immediately clear how long the delays would last, Metra said.
