The Chicago Metro Transit Authority reported delays on its service lines due to the weather. However, it notes that it is milder compared to the delays due to the polar vortex that occurred two weeks ago. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Metra had reported 12 delays ranging between thirteen to twenty two minutes on six of its operating lines.
The Metra had issued an advisory to its commuters, saying, "Unfortunately, weather conditions beyond our control will create unanticipated delays or service disruptions. Depending on the severity of condition in specific areas, your train may experience delays."
According to the National Weather Service, snow is not expected to fall but the cold would certainly be present. The highest temperature expected is at 10 degrees Celsius with a wind chill factor of -7 degrees. The projected low temperatures would be at zero with a wind chill factor of -16.
The Epoch Times echoed this forecast with a projected 50 percent chance of snow as high as 16 inches.
Road conditions were reported to be dangerous, with the local ABC News reporting that Chicago and Northwest Indiana being blanketed by nearly two feet of lake driven snow. This made the Interstate 80-94 dangerous to traffic with slick spots, requiring plowing from other districts to clear the snow.
Despite the cold, many media outlets took a playful look at the cold weather. The Huffington Post reported that the weather in Chicago was "so frigid Monday that it proved too chilly for the city's most popular bear."
According to Lincoln Park Zoo spokesperson Sharon Dewar, the polar bear Anana was kept in a climate controlled area. This is because the bear did not have the layer blubber needed to combat the below zero temperatures with wind chill factor of -42 degrees. The lack of the blubber is due to the warmer year round temperature in Chicago thus her diet had to be changed to make her comfortable throughout the year.