CHICAGO WEATHER: CPS CANCELS CLASSES THURSDAY DUE TO FRIGID TEMPS, SUB-ZERO WIND CHILLS

Hundreds of Chicago area schools were
closed Wednesday as temperatures dipped to brutally cold
levels, and Chicago Public Schools announced classes will be
canceled Thursday as well.
The National Weather Service said highs on Wednesday in
northern Illinois will range from -4 to 2 degrees with wind
chills as low as -30 and -35 overnight. A wind chill warning
was canceled as of 11 a.m., but a wind chill advisory is still in
effect until 12 p.m. Thursday.
People should remain indoors when possible. In these
conditions, frostbite can occur on exposed skin within
minutes.
The Chicago area reached its high of 6 degrees Wednesday
morning, according to ABC7 Meteorologist Tracy Butler.
Temperatures will continue to drop over the course of the day.
The record low for today is -16, but Butler said the Chicago
area is not likely to reach that point on Wednesday.
Snow is expected late Thursday with accumulations between 1
and 2 inches.
The weather is expected to warm slightly over the weekend.
High temperatures may reach the mid-20s and some light
snow is possible.
NO SCHOOL
The two largest districts in Illinois - U46 in Elgin and Chicago
Public Schools - are among more than 30 districts that
decided to cancel classes on Wednesday due to the cold. CPS
parents can check out the CPS website or call (773) 553-1000
for information.
Students who attend schools in Waukegan's District 60 were
also off on Wednesday. They already lost several weeks of
classes due to a teachers strike in the fall.
For a full list of school closings in the Chicago area , visit
ABC7's School Closings page.
The closures left some families scrambling to find child care.
Several organizations are trying to help by opening their doors
to children.
"We went to the computer lab. We played in the gym. And
we're doing a craft here," Sam Clark, 8, said. He's one of
many school-aged kids who didn't have class on Wednesday.
Clark's at the McCormick Tribune YMCA in Logan Square.
All YMCA centers in the Chicago metro are offering "School
Days Out" programs, YMCAChicago.org . For $40, parents
could drop kids off from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
"It's a support system. The YMCA sees itself as a place for
families to be and we want to provide that service," Stephen
Vick, McCormick Tribune YMCA, said.

more on-abc7chicago