CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, CPS officials announced.
The school district said late Wednesday that the below zero wind chills forecasted for Thursday were again too dangerous for students.
“Our top priority remains the safety of our students, and tomorrow’s weather conditions could again be dangerous to students traveling to and from school,” said CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. “It is in the best interest of our students to cancel classes tomorrow, and we look forward to welcoming back all of our students once weather conditions improve.”
The forecast calls for lows of up to minus 12 Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with wind chills as low as minus 30, the National Weather Service said. The high Thursday afternoon could hit 16 degrees, the weather service said, with snow possible in the late morning and winds of 30-35 mph.
CPS and other area schools preemptively canceled classes Wednesday. Temperatures went down to minus 1 degree at O'Hare Airport at 7:51 a.m. with a wind chill of minus 23, the weather service said. Temps never got higher than 2 degrees Wednesday.
On Thursday, CPS buildings will remain open for students that show up at school. CPS administrative staff, building engineers and custodians will be there, but not teachers or other staff.
The district said school should resume Friday.
"CPS will continue to monitor weather forecasts, but based on preliminary indications, CPS expects to be open for classes on Friday," the statement said.
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