Chicago Public Schools canceled Wednesday classes amid sub-zero predicted temps.
The school system joins a growing number of school districts in the region that already have canceled classes.
The National Weather Service warns of dangerously cold wind chills from Tuesday night through Thursday morning, bottoming out at 35 below zero overnight and into Wednesday morning. Wednesday will feel only slightly warmer — with wind chill temperatures about 25 below zero, according to the service.
That means frostbite could occur as quickly as 15 minutes on skin exposed to the cold.
Bitter cold sets in after snow blankets Chicago area
CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said in a statement: “The safety and well-being of our students comes first. The frigid temperatures and winds make a dangerous combination, and it is in the best interest of our students to cancel classes.”
Although classes are canceled, CPS buildings will be open to students who arrive at their schools. CPS administrators, engineers and custodians will report to work on Wednesday.
Last year, CPS shut down for four days in January because of frigid temperatures and snow, making the days up in March and at the end of the year.
Also closed in Chicago are the Noble Network of Charter Schools and the UNO Charter Schools.
Meanwhile, the following suburban districts have also canceled classes for Wednesday:
Community Unit School District 308
Community Consolidated School District 21
River Trails School District 26
School District 54 in Schaumburg Township
East Maine District 63
Park Ridge-Niles School District 64
Norridge School District 80
Cook County School District 104
Willow Springs School District 108
Lake Park High School District 108
Indian Springs School District 109
Deerfield Public School District 109
Burbank School District 111
Township High School District 113
Lemont-Bromberek District 113A
North Palos School District 117
Palos School District 118
New Lenox School District 122
Ridgeland School District 122
Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123
Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124
Atwood Heights School District 125
Alsip, Hazelgreen & Oak Lawn District 126
Palos Heights School District 128
School District 129
Cook County School District 130
Calumet Public School District 132
Riverdale District 133
Orland School District 135
Kirby School District 140
Forest Ridge Elementary School District 142
Midlothian School District 143
Posen-Robbins School District 143 1/2
Prairie-Hills School District 144
Arbor Park School District 145
Community Consolidated School District 146
South Holland School District 150
Hazel Crest 152 ½
Hoover-Schrum Memorial School District 157
Lansing School District 158
Elementary School District 159
Matteson School District 162
Park Forest- Chicago Heights School District 163
Community Consolidated School Districts 168
Ford Heights School District 169
Chicago Heights District 170
Sunnybrook School District 171
Burr Ridge Community Consolidated School District 180
Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
Indian Prairie School District 204
Thornton Township High School District 205
Bloom Township District 206
Maine Township High School District 207
Township High School District 211
Leyden High School District 212
High School District 214
Argo Community High School District 217
Community High School District 218
Barrington School District 220
Bremen Community High School District 228
Oak Lawn Community High School District 229
Consolidated High School District 230
Valley View School District 365U
Also closed: The DuSable Museum of African American History