Temperatures stayed so low into Thursday that Chicago shattered another record.
The temperature reached minus 23 degrees at O'Hare Airport (Chicago's official recording station) overnight. That broke the previous daily record of 15 degrees below zero, which was set on Jan. 31, 1966.
It was the second day in a row Chicago broke the daily record for low temperatures.
By 2 a.m. Wednesday, the temperature at O'Hare was minus 16 degrees. That was enough to break the old daily record for Jan. 30, which was 15 degrees below zero, set on Jan. 30, 1966.
The lowest temperature in all of Chicago history is 27 degrees below zero, a record set on Jan. 20, 1985.
While it appears as though that record is safe, the deep freeze hitting much of the Midwest remains dangerous and feels even colder than what the thermometers say.
Thursday's brutal cold began with wind chill readings of 45 to 55 degrees below zero overnight. A Wind Chill Warning remained in effect until 12 p.m.
The afternoon was expected to be less bitter as skies turn overcast before light snow develops after 3 or 4 p.m. in the far west and southwest counties.
The snow was expected to spread east across the metro area through the evening, likely impacting the commute. Afternoon temperatures will slowly climb to between zero and minus 10 degrees, eventually reaching the single digits late evening.
