All Chicago Public Schools will be closed on Friday, Jan. 23, due to severe weather, district officials announced in a press release on Thursday. Classes will not be in session, and school buildings will be closed.
“CPS decided to cancel classes on Friday after closely monitoring the forecast for the past 24 hours in collaboration with the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and other City agencies,” the district said in a written statement. “With dangerously frigid temperatures expected tomorrow and a Warning from the National Weather Service that wind chills could reach -35 degrees, it will be unsafe for students and staff to travel to school. Dangerously cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.”
Frigid temperatures are expected in Chicago on Friday. According to the National Weather Service, an Arctic front will usher in dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills late tonight through Friday morning. The wind chills could drop to -30 to -40 in some areas.
All extracurricular activities, including athletic practices, games and events scheduled for Friday will be canceled. There will be no remote learning on Friday. Any missed games will be rescheduled at a later time, the district said in a press statement.
The district expects that classes will resume on Monday, Jan. 26.
The city’s Department of Family and Support Services has six community warming centers that are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The West Side location at 10 S. Kedzie is open 24 hours a day. Chicago Police stations, city colleges, park districts and Chicago Public libraries can be used as warming centers during their business hours. A full list of citywide warming center locations can be found here.
