Wind chill warning issued
The National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan has issued a wind chill warning, which is in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday evening to 12 p.m. Friday. The wind chill advisory is no longer in effect.
An arctic high will push into the Dakotas tonight, sending very cold air south into the Great Lakes. This cold air will remain in place for the rest of the week. Air temperatures expected tonight through Thursday night are the coldest observed over southern Wisconsin in 13 years.
Low temperatures tonight are expected to drop into the low 20s below zero over much of south central Wisconsin, around 18 below over southeast Wisconsin, and around 13 below near the lake. Gusty northwest winds between 10 to 20 mph will produce dangerous wind chill values of 35 to 45 below.
High temperatures on Thursday will struggle to even reach 5 below, despite sunshine. Continued gusty northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph will produce wind chill values around 30 below throughout much of the day.
High pressure will sink south into Missouri for Thursday night. Clear skies and lighter winds will allow temperatures to plummet into the 20s below most places, except teens below near the lake. Some locations in the Wisconsin river valley may reach 30 below. Wind chills will again range from 35 below to 45 below. Air temperatures will finally rise above zero late Friday morning as warmer air surges north, ending the dangerous cold wave.
A wind chill warning is issued when the combination of very cold air temperatures and wind will create dangerously low wind chill values of 35 degrees below zero or colder for 3 hours or longer.
These conditions will result in frostbite, and could lead to hypothermia or death, if proper precautions are not taken. If you must venture outdoors, wear several layers of clothing and cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes. If clothes become wet, they should immediately be changed for dry ones.
Jan 17, 2009 at 9:05 a.m.
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It's so cold even Beth Wheelock's tattoos are wearing earmuffs.
Jan 15, 2009 at 10:54 a.m.
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Although I had already made the decision to keep my child home prior to the districts decision, I think that the call and certain future decisions need to be made in a more timely manner. People need to make arrangements for their kids; not everyone has a 9-5 job and 5am is too late to find out no school,and all the other reasons previously listed. And how about just some common courtesy? It makes you wonder how other more complex decisions about our children's education can be made if something so basic as this appears to be so difficult.
Jan 15, 2009 at 9:05 a.m.
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Yeah, this is bizzare behavior by the Admins in charge. Folks think BTC is different as it is a secondary school. However, those new buildings out there were built with Rock Co. taxpayer monies, just like the "Public schools". They should be held accountable to the same standards of health and safety. If they don't care, I guess they don't care.
Jan 15, 2009 at 2:37 a.m.
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No word yet on Beloit or Janesville schools for today. The sad part will be if they close the schools and some students do not get the word and are waiting outside needlessly. I am usually not one to encourage early notice re: closings, but I think this situation is different. Sometimes people do not get the notice about closing if it is posted later than sooner. Please be safe, everyone.
Jan 14, 2009 at 11:28 p.m.
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I just feel bad for all the parents who need to find daycare if school is closed. This decision is a no brainer and should have been made much earlier! I see that several daycares are already closed.
Jan 14, 2009 at 11:11 p.m.
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Is this a fact yet? Or simply what you think is inevitable?
Jan 14, 2009 at 10:53 p.m.
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I agree... I know of a few kids that walk to/from school whose parents have a difficult time finding alternative child care for because of their work schedules, or even have to wait w/ their parent(s) @ the city bus stop to get to/from school... it's obvious to many of us that the schools should close, even though snow is not a factor in the equation...
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"These conditions will result in frostbite, and could lead to hypothermia or death, if proper precautions are not taken. If you must venture outdoors, wear several layers of clothing and cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes." need I say more??...
Jan 14, 2009 at 10:31 p.m.
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It's ridiculous that the Beloit, Janesville and Madison school districts are going to wait until the morning to make a decision. It would be nice if parents can have more time to make other arrangements for their kids for the day. I can understand if it was snow and they want to wait until the morning to see how bad the roads are or aren't but when a wind chill WARNING has been issued, it's pretty much a no-brainer. Make the call already!
Jan 14, 2009 at 9:39 p.m.
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The weather forecast will not change significantly before 6am -- a decision to cancel school can be made the night before giving parents more time to make arrangements. If the Janesville schools are closed tomorrow . . . Guess Dr. E just doesn't want to risk a decision too early. We will just check the closings in the am.
Jan 14, 2009 at 9:06 p.m.
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Warm, What do we win if we guess it right??
Jan 14, 2009 at 8:11 p.m.
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I placing my bet on no school tomorrow for Janesville, a two hour delay on Friday. I will also bet that Mr. Evert will not post it until 4 am.
Jan 14, 2009 at 6:51 p.m.
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As much as I don't want to even feel this kind of cold I do have to go to work. My daughter does have to go to her grandparents. As long as people minimize the time they are outside then they should be okay. If you don't HAVE to go out then don't. Some people have jobs they can't miss. The school thing should be up to the parents. If the teachers make it then the kids should go to. I know it will be bitterly cold. If your child walks to school then tell them to stay home. I do believe the schools give 80 hours/8days for excused absences. This could be used as one.
Jan 14, 2009 at 4:33 p.m.
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Janesville kids I guess are tougher than us out here in the sticks!
Jan 14, 2009 at 3:37 p.m.
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Blackhawk Tech. College and Upper Iowa University therein have decided to have evening classes Wednesday night, the 14th; Len Walker, Eric Larson, Sharon Kennedy, Dan Hartstern, and Dan Galke are the folks there at BTC that have decided that students should be out driving in that weather after classes, getting out at 9pm and 10 pm this evening. Len Walker said the wind chill was not a factor and ..." only after a long period of exposure would you be at risk." Neither Mr. Walker or any of the other Administrators will be there this evening.
Jan 14, 2009 at 2:55 p.m.
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what's wrong with Janesville's bus service? If you want taxi service, call a cab!
Jan 14, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.
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dont you just love how janesville school district are quite the decision makers for your childs safety and welfare. some kids have towalk to school, and i dont feel that is safe in some of these tempatures. but they do. because its not them or their children. maybe they should walk to work. if they want them their maybe they should have better school bus services. as a parent if you feel the weather is to bad to send your children, then you need to make that decision not the school district.
Jan 14, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.
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If you bundle yourself and your kids up well enough, then this type of weather is just another day of winter. I live in the arctic, above the arctic circle and we have air temps at -40 with windchills at -60 for one to two months at a time. Our vehicles don't work when it is that cold so we walk. Everyone walks and neither school nor work gets cancelled. If you prepare and dress well enough, there is no cause for worry when the temps get that low. I say toughen up - you still live in Wisconsin!
Jan 14, 2009 at 11:52 a.m.
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My daughter has to walk almost 2 blocks to get to her bus.. (which comes at 7 am) and (I agree with "spiff").. If it is that butt ugly cold.. I will not make her go.. I am sorry-minus 25 to minus 40 degree wind chill is cause enough for her to miss school...
Jan 14, 2009 at 11:34 a.m.
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Makes no difference to me what the district decides..if i feel its unsafe for my child to go to school..she's not going!
Jan 14, 2009 at 10:04 a.m.
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Janesville School District will do an hour delay, but not a whole morning delay. So, I think there will be no school on Thursday or Friday.
Jan 14, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.
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I agree. With wind chills that cold, people would have to be crazy to go outside.... I wonder if Blackhawk tech will cancel too?
Jan 14, 2009 at 8:53 a.m.
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I'm guessing there wont be school on Thursday or Friday.
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