We came close to a record high temperature Wednesday. Strong southerly winds gusting over 45 mph boosted the official reading at the O’Hare observation site, topping out at 58 degrees, just 4 degrees short of the record 62 set in 1982. A strong cold front made short work of that mild air, sweeping through from the west late in the day and sending temperatures into a downward spiral.

Arctic cold rides northwest winds into northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana on Thursday — daytime highs will struggle to warm out of the teens, with single-digit wind chills. This cold air will hold into Christmas Day.

High pressure will ease off to the east Saturday with southwest flow up the backside of the departing high pressure allowing temperatures to “warm” back into the 30s.