Major Snowstorm: Schools, Libraries, Courts Close Due To Extreme Weather

ILLINOIS — With a major storm and "bomb cyclone" bearing down on the Chicago area — not to mention arctic cold that could see wind chills up to 40 degrees below zero — weather-related closings are happening all over the area.

More than 700 flights had also been canceled at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports, along with dozens of flight delays.

Some school districts across the Chicago area were closing early Thursday and canceling after-school activities, while others had shifted to remote learning. Other districts had already announced they will be closed Friday heading into winter break.

• Lake County Courts Close At Noon Thursday Due To Snowstorm

Libraries across the area were also closing early.

For a full list of closings, visit the Emergency Closing Center.

Warming centers had also opened in some towns in anticipation of a 20- to 30-degree temperature drop, which could cause wind chills to plummet to as low as 40 degrees below zero Thursday night.

The National Weather Service was anticipating 4 to 6 inches of snow for some parts of the Chicago area between Thursday and Friday, while AccuWeather's prediction was 4 to 8 inches.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for most of Illinois until 6 a.m. Saturday.

Commonwealth Edison said it is bracing for severe weather and extreme cold that could lead to power outages across the Chicago area. The company said additional crews and equipment are at the ready to respond to potential outages.

"We are positioning our people and equipment to respond quickly and safely to any interruptions that result from this snowstorm," Terry Donnelly, president and COO of ComEd, said in a news release. "We realize that any interruption is an inconvenience to our customers, especially during the holidays. Avoiding power outages and restoring service quickly is critical. We have strengthened our system over the years to reduce the impacts a storm like this can have on our customers."

ComEd customers are urged to contact the company immediately if they experience a power outage. Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report an outage and receive restoration information. Customers can also call 1-800 EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at ComEd.com/report.

More winter storm coverage from Patch:

• Illinois Tollway To Deploy Full Fleet Of Plows To Keep Roads Clear
• Waste Management Begins Service Early Due To Winter Storm
• 1.7M Cars Projected To Hit IL Roads As Winter Storm Approaches
• All Hands On Deck As Significant Winter Storm Rolls In