A freeze warning has been issued for parts of the Chicago area as the coldest air of the season sends temperatures plummeting to levels not seen in nearly six months.

According to the National Weather Service, the lowest temperatures are expected Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning, with cold conditions potentially affecting plants and outdoor pipes in many areas of the suburbs.

Here you can find out how the situation is likely to develop and which areas will be most affected by the weather.

Overnight stay from Monday to Tuesday

Showers and lake-effect thunderstorms caused by the cold air aloft and the warm waters of Lake Michigan are expected to continue Monday night and into Tuesday morning.

There have been reports of at least one waterspout in Lake Michigan tied to the weather, which is expected to last well into Tuesday.

Low temperatures overnight are expected to drop significantly, ranging from around 40 degrees near the lakeshore to the upper 30s in Chicago itself and in the low to mid 30s outside the city.

Frost is possible overnight, but there is no active frost monitoring or warning.

Tuesday morning

Residents can expect a stormy and chilly day Tuesday, with high temperatures barely reaching 50 degrees and winds blowing from the north at speeds of 20 to 25 miles per hour.

Showers and embedded thunderstorms are again expected to impact the area, particularly in parts of the region closer to Lake Michigan.

The system is expected to begin moving out of the area, but rain is still possible for much of the day.

Tuesday evening

After sunset, temperatures drop quickly and fall below 40°C in the evening hours. Rain will still be possible, but it will become more concentrated on Chicago itself and parts of northwest Indiana as the storm system slowly drifts eastward.

Overnight stay Tuesday/Wednesday morning

The main event for cold temperatures will occur late Tuesday and early Wednesday, with a freeze warning in effect for McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle, Kendall and Grundy counties in Illinois.

Temperatures will be slightly warmer across the city, but minimums are expected to fall to near the freezing mark across most of the area, with some places in the far western suburbs seeing lows fall below 30 degrees.

In affected areas, residents are urged to either cover or bring sensitive plants indoors and to remove water from hoses and outdoor pipes as the chilly conditions could cause damage.

Rest of the week

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, highs will be in the 50s again on Wednesday, but a warming trend will emerge over the following days.

By Thursday, highs will be back in the 60s, and by early Saturday, daylight readings are expected to be back in the low 70s, with lows in the low to mid 50s at night.

Stay tuned with the NBC 5 Storm Team for the latest weather news and information.