With extremely cold temperatures and wind chills blasting the Milwaukee area — and much of Wisconsin — many schools have decided to close for the day Tuesday. That includes Milwaukee Public Schools, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University.
Classes were also cancelled in Wauwatosa, Waukesha and West Allis school districts to the west of Milwaukee. Mequon to the north and South Milwaukee to the south are also closed, among many other area school districts.
UW-Milwaukee is canceling all in-person classes, public events and student activities Tuesday, the school announced.
Its Student Union, however, will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. That includes the Food Center and Pantry, as well as UW Credit Union. Residence halls and their dining operations will remain open as well.
For UWM off-campus events, people are to contact the event’s sponsoring unit for its status.
While all Marquette classes are canceled Tuesday, the university will be operational with limited on-campus services, the school announced. These areas will remain open — including the Alumni Memorial Union, University Dining Services and the Rec Plex — although hours may be reduced.
In general, when classes are canceled for severe weather, most campus events and all student-organized events will be canceled, the university said.
Across Milwaukee County, overnight temperatures Monday into Tuesday are expected to fall between -8 and -12 degrees, with wind chills around -30, according to Taylor Patterson, meteorologist for the Milwaukee/Sullivan National Weather Service.
Between 6 a.m. and noon Tuesday, area wind chills are expected to remain between -25 and -30.
The county’s Cold Weather Health Advisory, which starts at 6 p.m., will be upgraded to an Extreme Cold Health Warning at 3 a.m. It’s set to last through noon Tuesday, the City of Milwaukee Health Department said.
Here’s a look at the forecast, as well as Tuesday’s area school cancellations:
Note: Be sure to check with your school for more info. This list will be updated, but is not comprehensive. Some schools have not canceled after-school activities or sporting events. A handful of schools are opting to do virtual learning.
If you have a district or school to add to the list, email jsmetro@jrn.com.
What is Tuesday’s weather forecast for Milwaukee County? When will it warm up?
Breezy northwest winds continue into Monday evening, with temperatures continuing to drop overnight, according to Patterson.
Overnight Monday into Tuesday, temperatures along the immediate lake shore will fall to around -8 degrees. The northwestern and western portions of the county will have it even colder, with temps reaching around -12, Patterson said. Overnight wind chills across much of the county will be around -30.
Wind chills are the combination of cold air plus wind to create a “feels like” temperature, explained Andrew Quigley, Milwaukee/Sullivan NWS meteorologist.
High temperatures Tuesday across much of the county are expected to be between 0 to 3 degrees, Patterson said.
Between 6 a.m. and noon Tuesday, wind chills are expected to be between -25 and -30 degrees, according to Milwaukee/Sullivan NWS meteorologist Cameron Miller. Wind chills will rise into the negative teens Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s going to be a real slow climb up out of those cold temperatures,” Patterson said.
Southerly winds will start bringing warmer air Tuesday night into Wednesday, which is when we’ll see our “biggest changes in temperature,” she said.
Air temperatures will climb to between -2 and 0 degrees overnight, with wind chills around -10 to around -16 degrees Wednesday morning.
Wednesday’s high temperatures will be around 21 to 25 degrees. By the time we hit Wednesday afternoon and evening, wind chills will be between 8 and 11 degrees.
Overnight Wednesday into Thursday, temps will be in the teens, with wind chills around 2 to 6 degrees.
Thursday and Friday are expected to have high temps in the 20s.
This story has been updated with new information.
What Milwaukee-area schools are closed Tuesday, January 21?
Other Wisconsin schools closed Tuesday, January 21
As temperatures in Milwaukee, Wisconsin continue to plummet, officials have made the decision to close all Milwaukee Public Schools on Tuesday due to dangerously cold wind chills. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory for the area, warning of wind chills as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit.
The safety of students and staff is always a top priority, and with these extreme weather conditions, school officials felt it was necessary to close schools to ensure the well-being of everyone. Parents and guardians are urged to keep children indoors and to limit their time outside to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
While the closure may disrupt schedules and routines, the decision was made with the best interests of the Milwaukee community in mind. Stay warm and stay safe, Milwaukee.
