If you stepped outside in Tinley Park this morning, you probably didn't need a weather app to tell you it’s freezing. You felt it in your teeth. Honestly, the raw numbers on the thermometer are a bit of a lie today. While the official temperature is sitting right around 17°F, the real story is what’s happening with the wind.
It’s biting.
With a steady west wind blowing at 16 mph, the "feels like" temperature has plummeted to a measly 1°F. That is a massive gap. It’s the kind of weather where you think you're dressed appropriately until you turn a corner and the wind hits your face like a wet towel.
Basically, if you’re heading out to the 80th Avenue train station or just grabbing a coffee, that 16 mph wind is going to be your biggest enemy.
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What to Expect for the Rest of the Day
Don't expect a massive warmup. We are looking at a high of 18°F today, which is basically where we are right now. It's a flatline. The sky is staying mostly cloudy, though you might see some light snow flurries drifting around.
The chance of actual precipitation is low—only about 7% right now—but that increases slightly to 20% as we move through the afternoon and evening. It’s not a blizzard. It’s just that annoying, light, dusty snow that makes the roads look gray and keeps the salt trucks busy.
The Breakdown
- Current Temp: 17°F
- The Wind Chill: 1°F (This is the number that matters)
- Wind Speed: 16 mph from the West
- Humidity: 48%
- UV Index: 0 (You won't be seeing the sun today)
Understanding the "Tinley Chill"
People around here often talk about the lake effect, but today it's more about that open prairie wind coming across the flatlands to the west. When the humidity is at 48%, the air is dry enough to sap the moisture right off your skin, making the cold feel even sharper.
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The National Weather Service has noted that while we aren't under a formal advisory, the wind chill is low enough to cause issues if you're outside for a long time. Frostbite isn't an immediate threat at 1°F like it is at -20°F, but it’ll still make your ears throb in about ten minutes.
Moving Into Tonight
Tonight doesn't offer much relief. We’re dropping down to a low of 11°F. The wind is expected to stay fairly consistent, so that single-digit feels-like temperature is going to stick around through the overnight hours.
If you’re planning on being out late, maybe at one of the spots along Harlem or near the convention center, just know that the "light snow" predicted for tonight is a 20% chance. It’s enough to make the sidewalks slick, especially where the wind has cleared the salt away.
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Practical Advice for Today
Seriously, skip the light jacket. You need the windbreaker layer. Since the UV index is a flat 0, there is zero radiant heat coming from the sun to help you out.
- Cover your extremities. 1°F feels-like is no joke for your fingers.
- Watch the patches. With light snow and 16 mph winds, "black ice" can form on the overpasses near I-80.
- Check your tires. Cold snaps like this cause tire pressure to drop faster than you'd think.
Basically, today in Tinley Park is a day for indoor errands. If you have to be out, keep it brief and stay bundled. The humidity will rise slightly to 53% by tonight, which might make the air feel a bit "heavier," but the cold isn't going anywhere.