Chicago Public Schools cancels classes, all activities on Tuesday amid cold snap
CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools have announced that all their Tuesday classes and after-school activities have been canceled – for the second day in a row – amid the extreme cold plaguing the region.
"We have been carefully monitoring the forecast over the past 24 hours, and have determined that given frigid temperatures predicted for tomorrow, and a Wind Chill Warning from the National Weather Service that wind chills that could reach -30 degrees, it will be unsafe for staff and students to travel to school. Therefore, we are canceling all classes for Tuesday, January 16. All after-school programming, including athletic practices and games, are also canceled for Tuesday," CPS said in a statement.
Additionally, CPS says there will be no remote learning for students on Tuesday. The school system says they expect classes to resume on Wednesday when a warming trend begins.
On Monday afternoon, many people were in and out of the Jewel Osco along North Clark Street. Some were picking up essentials, while others stepped inside the lobby for relief from the bitter cold.
It's the type of weather where any skin exposed, even for a short period of time, can result in frost bite. The City of Chicago has activated its emergency operation plan through Wednesday.
By sun down, you could see steam rising from the underground on North Beaubien Court. Eric Sturgeon still needed to make some cash and spent a great deal of time on his bicycle delivering food.
Sturgeon said dressing in layers and making sure he's indoors as much as possible during his runs is his secret.
Tips to help stay warm during cold days:
- Stay inside and limit unnecessary trips outdoors
- Wear several layers of loose, warm clothing
- Pay special attention to keeping your hands, head, ears, and feet warm and dry
Several warming centers, including the Harold Washington Library, are open 24/7. Chicago is operating several warming centers across the city. Click HERE for details.
CPS weather updates can be found HERE.
It's colder in Chicago than some parts of Alaska
That's right. It's colder in Chicago than in parts of Alaska.
The Wind Chill Advisory continues through Wednesday morning. That's when the cooler air begins to let up and slowly moves along to the east throughout the rest of the week. By Sunday, Chicago will get relief.
By Tuesday next week, the air could feel about 70 degrees warmer than it does today as wind chills sit between -10 to -30 degrees.
Wind chills of -20 to -40 degrees can result in frostbite on exposed skin in 10 to 30 minutes.