In response to a severe arctic blast expected to hit eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, numerous schools are either closing or altering their schedules to ensure the safety of students and staff. KETV Meteorologist Sean Everson warns that residents should anticipate extremely low temperatures paired with hazardous wind chill values throughout Friday.
The dangerously cold conditions forecasted indicate that “feels like” temperatures may plummet to between 20 to 35 degrees below zero in the morning and hover around 10 to 15 degrees below zero in the afternoon. Such severe cold has prompted several institutions to announce closures, including the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, which will not open on Friday.
Affected school districts include:
– Atlantic Community School District
– AHSTW Community School District
– Bellevue Public Schools
– Bennington Public Schools
– Blair Community Schools
– Concordia Lutheran Schools
– DC West Community Schools
– East Mills School District
– Elkhorn Public Schools
– Fremont Public Schools
– Gretna Public School District
– Harlan Community School District
– Lincoln Public Schools
– Logan-Magnolia Community Schools
– Millard Public Schools
– Missouri Valley Community Schools
– Omaha Catholic Schools
– Omaha Public Schools
– Papillion-La Vista Community Schools
– Ralston Public Schools
– St. Albert Catholic
– St. Patrick’s Elkhorn
– Shenandoah Community School District
– Westside Community Schools
Remote learning options have been made available for Council Bluffs Community Schools, Glenwood Community Schools, and Red Oak Community School District, while Wahoo Public Schools and Weeping Water will have delayed starts.
For updates on closures and delays, residents are encouraged to check reliable sources and download the KETV mobile app for the latest weather information. With over 50 years of weather coverage experience in Nebraska and Iowa, KETV NewsWatch 7, led by Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby alongside Sean Everson, Caitlin Harvey, and Luke Vickery, is committed to providing timely alerts regarding severe weather conditions.
As this arctic air settles in, it serves as a reminder to stay prepared and take necessary precautions to face the winter weather challenges ahead.