Frigid Weather Causes Lincoln Park Zoo Closure

Amber Fisher
The closure will ensure the safety of animals and staff, the zoo said.

CHICAGO — As temperatures across the Chicago area continue to plummet, zoos have announced they will close during the cold snap. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning until Thursday at noon.

Both the Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo have announced they will temporarily close to ensure the safety of animals and staff.

The Lincoln Park Zoo closed at 3 p.m. on Tuesday and will remain shuttered on Wednesday. A small group of staff will be working at the zoo to make sure animals are safe and secure in barns and dens, the zoo said.

Brookfield Zoo plans to close its doors Wednesday and Thursday, and will also retain a core group of staff to ensure animals' safety. This marks only the fourth time in the Brookfield zoo's 85-year history that it has closed. The zoo said other dates included Feb. 2, 2011, due to a snowstorm and Sept. 14, 2008, and April 18, 2013, because of significant flooding.

The Brookfield Zoo plans to reopen on Friday.

Wind chills as low as 50 to 55 below zero are expected through Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as five minutes, the agency warned.

Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images