CHICAGO (WLS) — Residents of the Chicago region should brace themselves for an Extreme Cold Warning set to take effect on Friday. Authorities urge everyone to prepare for the severe drop in temperatures.

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This alert, initially issued as an Extreme Cold Watch, has been escalated and will be active from 3 a.m. until noon on Friday across the Chicago area.

According to ABC7 meteorologists, even though the warning is scheduled to lift at noon, the day will remain perilously cold.

Thursday’s forecast predicts gusty winds with temperatures peaking at 20 degrees, plummeting to a chilling 5 degrees by midnight.

By Friday morning, temperatures are expected to dip to a frigid -7 degrees, with wind chills potentially plunging to between -30 and -40 throughout the day.

Such extreme conditions can lead to frostbite on exposed skin in as little as ten minutes.

Some schools have started to announce closures for Friday. To see the full list of school closures, click here.

Metra will operate a reduced schedule on all its lines Friday.

Visit metra.com for more information.

The South Shore Line will also operate on a weekend/holiday schedule Friday.

On Saturday into Sunday, a major storm sweeping the south and northeast of the U.S. will likely being some snow to the southern suburbs of Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Lake-effect snow is possible on Monday morning.

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Millions of Americans brace for potentially catastrophic ice storm