School Closings for January 22, 2026: Live District-by-District Updates & Weather Alerts

An expansive Arctic air mass and a fast-moving winter storm have triggered widespread school closings for Friday, January 22 2026, stretching from the Southern Plains through the Great Lakes and into New England. Districts in Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, Missouri and Kansas confirmed shutdowns or early dismissals late Thursday, citing dangerous wind-chill values below –30 °F, heavy snow bands and the threat of prolonged power outages. Midwest hotspots • Chicago Public Schools canceled in-person and after-school activities as the National Weather Service warned of –35 °F wind chills across Cook County. • In Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Green Bay districts joined dozens of rural systems in closing campuses, shifting many students to asynchronous e-learning days. • St. Paul Public Schools shut down without remote instruction, stressing that sub-zero bus stops pose an “immediate safety hazard” for elementary students. Central Plains impact • Kansas City–area families awoke to a growing spreadsheet of closures, delays and remote-learning announcements as up to 8 inches of snow targeted the metro. • More than 30 Kansas USDs, from Dodge City to Liberal, pre-emptively closed after county emergency managers warned of whiteout travel overnight. South on alert • North Texas districts including Quanah ISD and Northside ISD ordered noon dismissals before sleet moved in along the Red River valley. How to confirm your district status 1. Check the district’s official website or mobile app; many post animated banners on the home page by 5 a.m. local time. 2. Follow local TV outlet scrolling tickers and NOAA Weather Radio for rapid updates if internet service is disrupted. 3. Sign up for SMS alerts where offered—Chicago PS, CPS 299, for example, now pushes texts in English and Spanish. Planning for a multiday shutdown Meteorologists warn that ice-laden power lines and single-digit highs could extend closures into early next week, especially across the Midwest grid where repair times lengthen in extreme cold. Parents should: • Download offline lesson packets or pick up printed work at designated warming centers. • Stock a 72-hour kit: battery packs, flashlights, shelf-stable meals and required medications. • Arrange child-care swaps with neighbors to reduce travel during peak snowfall. Travel and safety tips • Avoid morning commutes; black ice forms quickly once snow ends and skies clear. • If you must drive, clear tailpipes and pack blankets, water and booster cables. • Keep pets indoors; frostbite can occur in under ten minutes at –20 °F wind chill. When will classes resume? Forecast models show the core of Arctic air retreating eastward by late Sunday, but some districts will wait for wind-chill values above –10 °F and cleared secondary roads before reopening. Officials urge families to monitor Sunday evening robo-calls and district social feeds for Monday decisions. Bottom line January 22 2026 is shaping up to be one of the largest coordinated school shutdowns of the decade. Stay plugged into official channels, limit non-essential travel and use the unexpected day off to review winter safety plans with your household.