Chicago

Chicago's New Year's Day Cold Makes History

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After several days of frigid temps, Chicago’s record-breaking cold begins to take its toll on Chicagoans. Charlie Wojciechowski reports. 

The year 2018 is off to an historic start for Chicago -- but not a pleasant one. 

According to the National Weather Service, the Chicago area saw its lowest-recorded high temperature on a New Year’s Day - ever. The city's low maximum temperature was set at 1 degree at O'Hare Airport Monday. The previous record was five degrees above zero, which occurred in 1969. 

A record low average temperature was also set at -4 degrees at O'Hare Airport. The previous record for lowest average temperature for Jan. 1 was -2.5 degrees, also set in 1969.

New Year's Day brought wind chill warnings and advisories to the area as readings dipped to dangerous levels. 

A Wind Chill Warning was issued for several Chicago-area counties, including McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle, Kendall and Kankakee.

Stunning Photos of Chicago in the Cold

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NBC Chicago

The warning remained in effect until noon Monday with wind chills forecast between 20 and 35 below-zero. A second warning begins for LaSalle and Kankakee counties at 7 p.m. and continues to 1 p.m. Tuesday. 

A Wind Chill Advisory was also in place for the entire metro area until noon Tuesday with readings ranging from 20 to 30 below-zero. 

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Things stay cold Tuesday with highs between 9 and 13 degrees forecast and wind chill readings well bellow-zero. 

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