Looming frigid weather swooping down from Canada and into the Chicago area has prompted most school districts in Norridge and Harwood Heights to cancel school on Wednesday.
Following suit with more than 30 other school districts in the Chicago metro area that decided to close Wednesday, classes at Norridge School District 80, Pennoyer School District 79 in Norridge, and Union Ridge District 80 in Harwood Heights will be canceled on Jan. 7. Additionally, Ridgewood High School has also announced it will be closed Wednesday.
Faced with a forecast that calls for wind chills dipping down to 35 below zero overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, school administrators decided to err on the side of caution and allow kids to stay home and avoid the risk of venturing outdoors into the dangerous blast of winter.
A wind chill warning issued by the National Weather Service Tuesday afternoon begins at midnight Tuesday and is expected to extend through Thursday afternoon.
Wind chills are expected to “warm-up” during the day Wednesday to reach temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees below zero, according to the National Weather Service.
The cold is expected to grow even more dangerous on Wednesday night, however, with wind chills forecasted to reach 30 to 40 below zero.
Meteorologists are prompted to issue a wind chill warning when high winds combine with extremely cold air.