Extreme Cold In Evanston: What's Closed

Jonah Meadows

EVANSTON, 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 and a state of emergency has been declared. 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. About 70 percent of winter deaths related to ice and snow occur in motor vehicles, according to the American Red Cross.

Here's what's closed in and around Evanston:

  • Evanston/Skokie District 65 — Closed Wednesday and Thursday

  • Evanston Township High School — Closed Wednesday and Thursday (after-school activities will take place Thursday.)

  • Northwestern University — Evanston and Chicago campuses

  • Beacon Academy

  • Cherry Preschool

  • Chiaravalle Montessori School

  • St. Athanasius School

  • St. Joan of Arc School

  • Toddler Town Daycare Too

  • McGaw YMCA Children's Center

  • Rotary International World Headquarters

  • Evanston Public Library

  • Cook County Court — Closed Wednesday and Thursday

  • Non-essential Cook County offices

  • Metra Union Pacific North Line will operate on alternate schedule

(As of 12 a.m. Wednesday)

City officials announced offices would be closed and trash pickup would be delayed:

The Morton Civic Center will close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 29 and will be closed on Wednesday, January 30. City meetings scheduled for Tuesday evening and all meetings scheduled for Wednesday, including the Special City Council meeting, have been canceled.
All Evanston Public Library locations will close on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and will be closed all day on Wednesday.
All Parks, Recreation and Community Services classes and programming after 6 p.m. on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday have been canceled. Facility schedules are as follows:
The Chandler-Newberger Center, Evanston Ecology Center, Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center, Noyes Cultural Art Center and Robert Crown Center will close no later than 6 p.m. on Tuesday and will be closed all day on Wednesday.
The Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center will close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and will be open on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for drop-in activities for children ages 5 to 14. Regular programming and activities have been canceled.
The Levy Senior Center will close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and will be open on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for drop-in activities for seniors and children ages 5 to 14. Regular programming and activities have been canceled. The Levy Center's Transportation Resource Fair planned for Thursday, January 31 has been rescheduled to March 7.
Trash and Recycling Collection Postponed
Trash and recycling collection will not occur on Wednesday. Collections will be delayed until later in the week, as determined by weather conditions. Updates will follow.
311 Open
311 will be open for extended hours on Wednesday, from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Please call/text 847-448-4311 or dial 3-1-1 in Evanston for questions or to report any issues. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

Trash and recycling collection will not occur on Wednesday. Collections will be delayed until later in the week, as determined by weather conditions. Updates will follow.

Free parking in the City's three downtown parking garages has been extended through Thurs., Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m. Garages are located at: Sherman Plaza, 821 Davis St. Maple Avenue, 1800 Maple Ave. Church Street, 525 Church St. Drivers will need to present the ticket they received upon entering the garage in order to exit for free.
Presence Saint Francis Hospital is also allowing residents to park overnight on the 5th and 6th floor of its parking structure through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. City parking meters and pay stations will not be enforced on Wednesday.