CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Be prepared Chicagoans, temperatures are going to take a big dip Thursday night into Friday morning.
"The wind is going to crank today," said Accuweather Meteorologist Dean Devore. "Temperatures are chilly this [Thursday] morning in the upper 40s to near 50. Subtract about five or 10 with the real-feel...Our highest temperature today is only going to be 55, even with increasing amounts of sunshine, so it is certainly a drastic chill down from yesterday that got to near 80."
The National Weather Service issued a Freeze Warning for all of the Chicago area from 1 a.m. until 9 a.m. Friday morning. Originally, the weather service issued a freeze watch and later upgraded it to a freeze warning.
"It is going to be cold tonight," Devore said. "We have Freeze Warnings out for the early morning hours of Friday down to the upper 20s; hard freeze inland; colder in the suburbs, near 40 at the lakefront."
Temperatures are expected to drop, with lows in the upper 20s and low 30s over much of northern and central Illinois into northwest Indiana. Some of the coldest locations may briefly drop into the mid 20s, the National Weather Service said.
Temperatures across much of Cook County and the city of Chicago will likely drop into the mid and upper 30s, the National Weather Service said, but the surrounding area will likely see its first freezing temperatures of the season.
Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation, and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
Mid-October is a normal time for the first fall freeze in the suburban Chicago area, according to the National Weather Service, which cited data collected between 1980 and 2010.
The city usually sees its first freezing temperatures a bit later, towards the end of October, due to its proximity to Lake Michigan, which traps heat in the water, and because of all the concrete, asphalt and blacktop structures which also absorb and maintain heat, National Weather Service Meteorologist Lee Carlaw told the Sun-Times.
High temperatures in Chicago will continue to hover in the 50s and low 60s throughout the rest of the week, while dropping to the low 40s at night, the National Weather Service said.
Meteorologist Dean Devore said Friday will be breezy with sunshine, with temperatures in mid-50s. Saturday's temperature will be around 60, but it will be windy with early showers and sunny breaks in the afternoon. It will be even chillier on Sunday, with the highest temperature at 50 with early showers and dry weather in the afternoon. The temperatures will be in the low 50s with rain possible on Monday.
In addition to the Freeze Warning, the National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for portions of North Central Illinois, Northeast Illinois, and Northwest Indiana. The Hazardous Weather Outlook includes an elevated fire weather risk and a significant frost and freeze risk outside Chicago Thursday night.
The National Weather Service said the continued breezy and dry conditions Thursday will result in elevated fire danger Thursday afternoon.
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Temperatures near and below freezing are expected Thursday night into early Friday morning away from downtown Chicago.
In looking ahead, Friday and Saturday there is a limited non-thunderstorm wind risk and an elevated fire weather risk. And on Wednesday, there is a limited thunderstorm risk.
Stronger winds are possible on Saturday which may result in a period of elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions, the National Weather Service said.