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CHICAGO (WLS) — Tuesday got off to a frigid start with temperatures below zero and wind chills well below zero.
Wind chills were as low as -25 in some parts of the area Tuesday, ABC7 Accuweather Meteorologist Tracy Butler says.
Butler said it is likely that wind chills will remain below zero for most of the day.
The National Weather Service issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, La Salle, Livingston, McHenry and Will counties which expired at noon.
The NWS says the dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
There were some issues on suburban Metra trains Tuesday morning, including frozen tracks.
Despite the cold, Tuesday will have plenty of sun.
Wednesday is forecast to remain cold in the morning with a few flurries during the day.
Warming centers are open all week across Chicago.
People scrunched their face close to their neck to stay warm during the morning commute Tuesday.
“I’m freezing cold, I’m grin and bearing it into the office today, one day,” commuter Kathleen Neberz said.
“Normally working from home,” commuter Steve Shein said. “The home office would’ve been nice today”
People packed on the layers to venture out in sub zero temperatures.
“Two bundle,” Neberz said. “I got a heavy coat, and a vest, hat, and cover my mouth.”
“I just came back from Florida so I was feeling nice and warm inside but outside is brutal,” commuter Christina Nicosia said.
The extreme cold caused causing some early morning track and switching issues.
Metra had to single track between Downers Grove and La Grange because of broken rails on the BNSF Line.
Crews made emergency repairs while passengers wait for their ride in the western suburbs.
It was a packed house inside the La Grange Metra station for commuters to stay warm, as they await their train.
“Thankfully, the station is open, but it seems like there’s dozens of people are here and they’re all waiting, so it’s going to be a crowded train,” commuter Jeff Philips said.
Homeowners are also being encouraged to take precautions and ensure they have proper heating to stay safe in these frigid temperatures.
An HVAC crew tending to homes on the city’s Northwest Side on Monday.
Brendan Brown who works with Four Seasons Heating and Cooling was kept busy Monday fixing furnaces and plumbing issues on the heels of this brutal cold.
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“Extremely busy, especially now more than ever because, I mean, if you look outside, you have freezing temperatures. I mean, I think all throughout this week it’s going to be very, very cold,”
Brown said. “If the ducts aren’t being cleaned or the filter’s not maintained, you basically are starting restrict more air flow that goes through the house.”
He says the biggest tips for homeowners, as winter grips our area this week, are to keep a slow drip on your faucets to prevent pipes from bursting and to change your furnace’s filter every month.
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