Indiana & Illinois
In Indiana, the "Extreme Cold Warning" has prompted dozens of districts to transition to e-learning. Areas around Indianapolis and Northern Indiana are seeing significant disruptions:
e-Learning Days: Districts such as Merrillville, Duneland, Crown Point, and Gary Community Schools have moved classes online due to dangerous wind chills.
Illinois Impacts: In Champaign and Vermilion counties, many schools including Champaign Unit 4 are closed, while others like Urbana District 116 are operating via e-learning.
Michigan & Ohio
Michigan is facing a third consecutive day of weather-related shutdowns in some areas.
Universities: Western Michigan University (WMU) has closed all campuses for Friday, January 23, due to severe wintry weather.
Metro Detroit: A long list of K-12 schools in Detroit and surrounding suburbs have announced delays or full closures as temperatures remain dangerously low ahead of a predicted weekend snowstorm.
Ohio: Schools in the Miami Valley and Dayton areas are reporting delays and closures specifically due to the "bitterly cold" morning temperatures.
Minnesota
The Anoka-Hennepin School District, one of the largest in Minnesota, has canceled all classes for today. District officials cited the inability to operate their complex transportation system safely under the current "Extreme Cold Warning."
Why Are Schools Closing?
While snow is a factor in some states, the primary driver for today’s closures is the Extreme Cold:
Safety at Bus Stops: Standing outside in wind chills reaching -15°F to -25°F poses a risk of frostbite within minutes.
Mechanical Issues: School buses often struggle to start or maintain cabin heat in sub-zero temperatures.
Hazardous Roads: Patchy black ice remains a threat across the Midwest following earlier precipitation.
Looking Ahead: Weekend Outlook
Meteorologists are tracking a new system that may bring light to moderate snow to the Ohio River Valley and Southern Indiana starting Saturday evening. Parents are advised to keep their notification alerts active, as the cold is expected to persist into early next week.
Tip: Most districts now use "Synchronous" or "Asynchronous" e-learning days instead of traditional "snow days" to avoid extending the school year into June.
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