As many as seven Chicago-area schools had announced delays, closures or e-learning Tuesday due as a cold weather advisory continues.
According to the National Weather Service, wind chills as low as -30 degrees were possible in some parts Tuesday morning, with sub-zero wind chills to continue throughout the day. The high temperature Tuesday was expected to be 9 degrees, the NBC 5 Storm Team said.
In Northwest Indiana, Lake Station Community Schools announced all LSCS schools would close Tuesday "due to the extreme weather." No e-learning would take place, but a makeup day was scheduled for April 21, 2025.
Several other area schools announced e-learning or delayed starts due to the conditions, including District #103 Lyons, District #148 Dolton West, and District #86 Joliet Public Schools.
Chicago Public Schools remained open, according to its website.
"Chicago Public Schools’ goal is to always have schools open," a post on its website said. "We don’t want students to miss valuable learning time and meals they may depend on as part of the school day. Therefore, CPS will do everything possible to keep classes in session as long as it is safe for students and staff."
A running list of closures from the Emergency Closing Center can be found here.
Early Tuesday morning, temperatures clocked in at -4 degrees in Chicago, with wind chills between -25 and -30 in parts to the west. While the high temperature will warm to 9 degrees, wind chill values will stay below zero through the afternoon, NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
Weather
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter.
"Limit time outdoors, if you can, and bundle up when you do need to go outside," the NWS said, adding that frozen pipes, hypothermia, frostbite and ice jams on area rivers were all possible.
Bitterly cold conditions are expected throughout the workweek. The coldest conditions are expected this morning, when wind chills of -20°F to -30°F will be observed across much of the area. Limit time outdoors, if you can, and bundle up when you do need to go outside! #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/zFAZHT07ke
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 18, 2025
Dehydration from the cold can also occur, health experts warned, which could take people by surprise.
"We usually associate dehydration with hot weather, but cold weather we are often able to get it too because you feel less thirsty and we tend to drink less fluids during that time," Dr. Santina Wheat with Northwestern Medicine said. "Additionally, when it’s cold outside, we are inside with indoor heating hopefully. That dry air can also increase the water loss that we have through evaporation."
How long to warm up your car in the extreme cold? It's different than you may think
Wheat recommends drinking fluids throughout the day and keeping a clean humidifier near by. If you don't have a humidifier, she suggests putting a bowl of water near your heat source in your home.
Signs of dehydration in the intense cold can be dry mouth and skin, dizziness, headaches and nose bleeds.
How long will the cold last?
The bitter cold will last through Thursday, Roman said, with another cold weather advisory going into effect at midnight Tuesday through 10 a.m. Wednesday for counties to the west, including McHenry Boone, Winnebago and DeKalb.
At that time, "feels-like" temperature could be between -25 and -30 degrees, the NWS said.
Some light snowflakes could fall late Wednesday, Roman said, with temperatures warming into the teens. The gradual warm-up continues, Roman said, with a high of 21 degrees Thursday.
By Friday, temperatures will hit around 30 degrees, Roman said, with higher readings into the weekend and 40 degree readings by early next week.
Frozen pipes, warming centers and more
Amid the cold, the Chicago Department of Water Management advised residents to run a trickle of cold weather on each floor of their home to prevent pipes from freezing.
"If a pipe does freeze, never use an open flame to thaw it," the department said. "Use a hairdryer instead."
Warming centers
According to the Chicago Department of Emergency Management and Communications, more than 200 facilities will be available for warming through Friday, including Chicago Public Library and Park District locations, city colleges and police departments.
Other community warming centers, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. are below:
- Englewood Community Service Center - 1140 West 79th Street
- Garfield Community Service Center - 10 South Kedzie Avenue
- Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center - 4314 South Cottage Grove
- North Area Community Service Center - 845 West Wilson Avenue
- South Chicago Community Service Center - 8650 South Commercial Avenue
- Trina Davila Community Service Center - 4312 West North Avenue
