Cold will linger throughout the week, meteorologists say

A weather system bringing in the coldest air of the season into the region also is expected to deliver a massive lake-effect snowfall east of the Great Lakes.

AccuWeather reports that areas downwind from the Great Lakes to the east and south could see multiple feet of snow, whiteouts, road closures and massive drifts this week.

For the suburbs, Monday's weather brought in snow flurries and temperatures more than 20 degrees below average for November. Temperatures overnight Monday are expected to dip to 19 degrees with gusts making the wind chill about 1 degree above zero.

There's a 20 percent chance of snowfall overnight.

In other parts of the country, lake-effect snow is expected to fall through midweek and maybe even beyond, meteorologists say, with as much as 3 to 5 feet predicted to fall in parts of New York.

"Although there is often some lake-effect snow in November, it is uncommon to get such a prolonged lake-effect event this early in the season," AccuWeather Meteorologist Steve Travis said.

In the Chicago area, the cold will stay throughout the week, slowly climbing to 30 degrees Wednesday and 27 degrees Friday. Sunday is expected to top out at 44 degrees.

For more information, check out the National Weather Service information page at weather.gov or AccuWeather at accuweather.com.

Meanwhile, the state has opened more than 100 warming centers. They are open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

State officials say Illinois Tollway oases also are available 24 hours a day, every day, as Chicago-area warming centers.

Gov. Pat Quinn and the state Department on Aging are encouraging residents to use the warming centers and check on the elderly.

To find a warming center near you, call (800) 843-6154 or visit www.keepwarm.illinois.gov.

• Daily Herald news services contributed to this report.