Extreme Cold In Lake Forest, Lake Bluff: What's Closed

LAKE FOREST-LAKE BLUFF, IL — Schools, services and other organizations will be closed on Wednesday due to dangerously cold weather as a wind chill warning begins in the area. Many local businesses and facilities will be closed — so if you must venture out, make sure to call ahead and take adequate precautions.

Some of the coldest temperatures are expected to begin Tuesday night and Wednesday night, when temps will be -20 to -30, the National Weather Service said, with wind chills from -40 to -55. Temperatures will remain below zero throughout the day Wednesday and may also struggle to get above zero on Thursday.

Such temperatures can cause frostbite to exposed skin in less than 10 minutes. Keeping non-essential motorists off the road would ease the burden on emergency responders at work during the extreme weather event, according to local officials.

Here's what's closed in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff:

• District 65 — Closed Wednesday and Thursday
• District 67— Closed Wednesday
• District 72 — Closed Wednesday
• District 115 — Closed Wednesday
• East Lake Academy
• Lake Forest Country Day School
• Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
• Montessori School of Lake Forest
• School of St. Mary
• Woodlands Academy
• Gorton Center — Closed Wednesday and Thursday
• Lake Bluff Park District
• Lake Forest Parks and Recreation — Recreation Center as a warming center only
• Lake County Court — Closed Wednesday and Thursday
• Non-essential Lake County offices
• Lake County Forest Preserve
• The Metra Union Pacific North Line will operate on an alternate schedule

(As of 6 p.m. Tuesday)

City officials announced warming shelters would be made available to people who need them:

Warming Shelters

Please note that the following City buildings are official Warming Centers for those in need: Lake Forest Recreation Center, 400 Hastings Road; 847.234.6700 (Open 7 days a week until 8 p.m.) Lake Forest Public Safety Building, 255 W. Deerpath; 847.234.2601. Dickinson Hall, 100 E. Old Mill Road; 847.234.2209 (open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.)

LifeWorking Enterprises, located at 717 Forest Avenue in the Central Business District, will be open to the public as office space for those who need to get work done. Please call 847.457.2662 for more information.

Be safe and when in doubt, phone first to see what is open and what is closed or has been cancelled. Rec Center weather cancellation hotline: 847.234.6702.
Lake Forest Fitness Center: 847.810.3932.
Non-emergency Police: 847.234.2601.
All City buildings: 847.234.2600.