All Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will be closed on Friday, January 23, 2026, due to severe weather conditions. The district announced that classes and all CPS buildings will be closed to the public for the day.
The decision was made after monitoring weather forecasts in coordination with the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and other city agencies. According to warnings from the National Weather Service, wind chills could drop as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, making travel unsafe for students and staff. Exposure to such cold temperatures can result in frostbite within ten minutes.
“With dangerously frigid temperatures expected tomorrow and a Warning from the National Weather Service that wind chills could reach -35 degrees, it will be unsafe for students and staff to travel to school. Dangerously cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes,” CPS stated.
All extracurricular activities scheduled for Friday—including athletic practices, games, and events—are also canceled. There will be no remote learning on January 23. The district expects classes to resume on Monday, January 26. Missed athletic competitions are planned to be rescheduled.
The OEMC and National Weather Service recommend that residents stay indoors and avoid unnecessary trips outside during this period of extreme cold.
Warming centers are available throughout Chicago during winter months for those seeking shelter from the cold. More information about these centers is available by calling 3-1-1 or visiting cps.edu for updates regarding school closures.
