There have been sub-zero temperatures in Chicago for two days, but the bitter cold is expected to lift later today and make conditions decent for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game between the Bears and Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.

It was 3-below zero on Friday with wind chills make it feel like 20-below. WGN-TV meteorologist Tom Skilling is forecasting a game-time temperature of 22. The game begins at 2 p.m. local time.

More important to football coaches than the temperature and potential precipitation is the wind. Skilling is projecting a breeze of up to 15 mph, which should not have a significant impact on the passing games involving Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers. There is a slight chance of snow flurries, but the wind is the primary factor now that we know dangerous cold weather is going to lift.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune