Mokena District 159 Closes Schools, Opts For E-Learning Ahead Of Extreme Cold

MOKENA, IL — Mokena District 159 students will stay home and attend school via e-learning ahead of anticipated extreme cold Friday, Jan. 23, the District has announced.

Parents should have received an email from administration, and the District's e-learning plan is also available online.

Summit Hill District 161 will also have an e-learning day, the District announced on its website. An e-learning schedule is provided. Additional grade-level specific information will be shared by classroom teachers and building administrators.

Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 below zero are expected for the Chicago area on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. An extreme cold warning has been issued from 3 a.m. to noon on Friday for the area.

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The weather service said there is a high confidence in a period of bitter cold with dangerous wind chills from Thursday night through Saturday morning. There is still some uncertainty on just how extreme the cold will be.

The cold will begin Thursday night, when temperatures could get as low as -14, and wind chills could be as low as 40 below zero. The cold continues into Friday morning, and by Friday afternoon, wind chills could still be as low as 25 below zero, according to the weather service.

Saturday morning will see a high of -2 degrees, and wind chills as low as 10 below zero will continue into Saturday afternoon.

Winds will also gust as high as 25 mph on Thursday night into Friday morning, according to the current forecast.

"Some areas will likely see actual temps remain below zero all day Friday," the weather service said.

The weather service advised staying indoors if possible, bringing pets indoors and letting faucets drip slowly to prevent frozen or burst pipes. Frost bite can occur in as little as 10 minutes with this cold.

READ MORE: Extreme Cold Timeline: When It Will Hit, What To Expect