Chicago weather, wind chill today: Cold Weather Advisory issued amid dangerous Chicago wind chill temps

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Chicago weather, wind chill today: Cold Weather Advisory issued amid dangerous Chicago wind chill temps

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An artic blast is bringing dangerous sub-zero wind chills to the Chicago area, and temperatures will drop even more on Saturday night.

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ABC7 Chicago meteorologists have issued an AccuWeather Alert for the weekend’s bitter cold.

The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lake (Ill.), Livingston, McHenry, Winnebago, Jasper, Lake (Ind.) and Newton counties from 8 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday.

A Cold Weather Advisory is also impacting Wisconsin’s Waukesha County from midnight Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday.

A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect for Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, Livingston, Jasper and Newton counties from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Slippery road conditions were possible in those areas, as low temperatures could interfere with snow removal efforts, the NWS says. Wind gusts up to 25 mph could also cause snow to drift back onto roadways.

Officials warned that frostbite can develop in minutes without the proper clothing.

The city of Aurora will have a warming center open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. with meals available and plenty of cots for sleeping.

READ MORE | Warming centers open in city, suburbs as bitter cold moves into Chicago area | Full list

Snow developed in parts of the area on Saturday, but it started to stop around 3 p.m.

Most of the accumulating snow was expected south of Interstate 80, where a couple of inches were possible.

High temperatures on Saturday were in the lower teens with wind chills staying around -10 to -20 throughout the day.

Sunday morning, ahead of the Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field, will be the coldest part of the weekend.

SEE ALSO | Fans, players bracing for what could be one of coldest Bears games ever

As the Cold Weather Advisory expires, winds may relax on Sunday afternoon, but it will still be bitterly cold. During the game, wind chills will be anywhere from -5 to -10.

Local woman donates supplies to help those in need survive frigid temperatures

As the temperatures get dangerously cold outside, one woman is trying to help those in need to survive the night.

She came up with donations on her own and with some help from the community as, she says, this is what she feels is right in these dangerously cold temperatures.

Dominique McKenzie has been doing her best to help those in need for years now, but on Saturday night, it is even more important as Chicago deals with arctic weather.

Hand warmers, gloves, blankets and other essentials went directly to individuals on Saturday night as she and her family coursed through the city delivering donations.

“There are people who are just, you know, really trying and don’t have the resources that we have. And even when we have the resources, sometimes, we really don’t have the resources. So, it’s important for me to continuously do it,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie runs a nonprofit called Poor Connections, which is specifically trying to help young men across Chicago learn from an influential woman like herself while also helping small business owners and others in the city.

She says the trauma of losing her brother last year reminded her how important it is to help others.

“I felt like that was my purpose, that was my calling with the nonprofit. And, I really wanted to reach back, and I want to reach back especially to the men and our youth and give back from a woman’s perspective,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie says she took in donations from local businesses in Oak Forest, but much of it came out of her own pocket.

It’s not her first time doing something like this, and she says it certainly won’t be the last time.

“It’s cold. We’re in different times. And so, I’m just doing my part,” McKenzie said.

If you would like to donate to the cause, you could come to 161st and Cicero in Oak Forest and drop off anything that would help those during the cold temperatures.

Meanwhile, there is light at the end of the tunnel. A warming trend is expected next week, and temperatures may climb into the 40s by Wednesday.

Click here for the latest seven-day forecast.