Chicagoans will experience a good deal of sunshine Wednesday and combined with southerly winds will see temps reach into the middle 30s. An increase in high and midlevel clouds will be our first indicator of big changes to come.

A strong cold front will sweep through from the west Thursday, preceded by a period of rain possibly mixed with sleet and perhaps even snow. After the front passes a given location, temps will fall and precipitation will change over to all snow later in the day Thursday. Winds strengthen with steady snow Thursday night, temps in the teens.

Friday begins an extended bitterly cold period — the coldest in two years. Temps will drop into single digits during daytime hours with subzero overnight lows over the weekend and into next week.