Chicago area temperatures are predicted to peak in the lower 40s Friday before falling to minus 7 Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologist Casey Sullivan said Friday’s highs will be above normal but won’t be unusual for mid-January. A strong cold front will move through the area Friday night. “When people wake up Saturday morning, temperatures will be in the lower 20s,” Sullivan said. “And then high temperatures for the daytime Saturday are only going to be in the lower 20s.” Then it will get even colder. “By Sunday morning, we’ll have lows in the single digits above zero,” Sullivan said. On Monday morning, the temperature is expected to get down to minus 1 downtown and minus 3 at O’Hare International Airport. Tuesday morning, a low of minus 7 is expected at O’Hare. A low of minus 1 is expected at O’Hare Wednesday. Low temperatures usually occur right around sunrise, Sullivan said. “Wind chills will be below zero for much of this time period,” Sullivan said. “And on Monday morning and Tuesday morning, the wind chills will be as cold as 20 to 25 below zero. So the main takeaway is, if you don’t have to go outside, you stay inside. If you have to work outside, bundle up and try to take breaks in some type of warm environment.” There may be rain on the South Side and in the southern suburbs Friday evening. The rain may briefly mix with some snow around midnight. Any other precipitation during the upcoming cold spell is not expected, Sullivan said.