With subzero wind chills in the forecast, these schools are closed or delayed Tuesday
With wind chills as low as five below zero in the forecast, several area schools have canceled or delayed classes for Tuesday.
Closures started rolling in late Monday and early Tuesday due to the extreme cold. The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the region.
The list below will be updated as new information comes in.
While we strive to have the most up-to-date information, it's always best to check with your local district for the latest instructions.
These schools are closed Tuesday
Central Baptist Academy
Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy
Edgewood School District
Norwood City Schools
*Mason County Schools - Non-Traditional Instruction
*Robertson County Schools - Non-Traditional Instruction
St Francis Seraph School
Winton Woods City Schools
These schools will be operating on a delayed schedule
Adams County/Ohio Valley Schools - 1 hour
Augusta Independent Schools - 1 hour
Bright Local Schl Dist - 2 hours
Christian Acad of Madison - 2 hours
Cincinnati Hills Christian Acd - 2 hours
Eastern Local Brown County - 2 hours
Fairfield Local - Highland County - 2 hours, no a.m. preschool, no breakfast
Fayetteville-Perry Local Schools - 2 hours
Franklin City Schools - 2 hours, no am preschool
Georgetown Exempted Village Schools - 2 hours
Hillsboro City Schools - 2 hours, no a.m. preschool
Lynchburg/Clay Local Schl Dist - 2 hours
North College Hill City Schools - 2 hours
Preble Shawnee Local Schools - 2 hours
Ripley/Union/Lewis/Huntington - 2 hours
Southern Hills CTC - 2 hours
Springboro Community Schools - 2 hours
St. Ursula Academy - 2 hours
This report contains information for Enquirer media partner Fox19.
How cold does it have to be to cancel school?
Most districts in Greater Cincinnati don't have a set policy when it comes to closing schools for weather-related issues. However, if the National Weather Service issues a wind chill warning, there's a good chance school districts will start discussing the possibility of being closed for in-person learning or delaying start times.
In past years, Mason City Schools officials said it will close on days when the temperature or wind chill factor dips below minus 20 to minus 25, The Enquirer reported in 2021. Talawanda School District, Campbell County Public Schools and Covington Independent Public Schools have similar policies.
Cincinnati Public Schools may also close for snow, or for extreme cold or hot temperatures, per its website.
For Boone County Schools, factors that are taken into consideration when deciding whether or not to cancel school include outside temperature, wind chill factors, amount of precipitation, and any road-clearing progress that's been made.
The Lakota School District has a similar policy. By 4 or 5 a.m., the district’s chief operating officer and other staff members will drive through the district to assess the conditions of main roads, subdivision streets, school parking lots, and sidewalks while also communicating with local law enforcement officials and township road crews.
Closures due to snow accumulation or extremely cold temperatures may occur in these districts. But there is no specific temperature that will lead to a school closure.
Most school districts will make a decision about school closures around 5 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky school closings, Jan. 16