Dozens of schools across the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic closed this week for a major winter system that continues to impact parts of the country.
The storm, driven by a polar vortex that has stretched from the Rocky Mountains to Maine, brought the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures in over a decade to parts of the country, NBC reports.
The Kansas City International Airport in Missouri reported a record snowfall of 11 inches Sunday, breaking the previous record of 10.1 inches set in 1962. Louisville, Ken., got 7.7 inches of snow Sunday, beating the previous record of three inches set in 1910. The unusually cold temperatures are also expected to linger for the rest of the week.
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Since Saturday, more than 60 million people across 30 states have been under weather alerts. On Monday, governors from Maryland, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky have declared states of emergency.
The National Guard was subsequently deployed in Kansas, Western Nebraska, and parts of Indiana to help drivers stranded on roads covered in snow and ice, according to Sky News. Hundreds of thousands of people have also lost power.
Dozens of School Districts Remain Closed in Midwest, Mid-Atlantic
Districts in Indiana, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, and Ohio began announcing Monday school closures on Sunday afternoon, including all schools in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. In Kansas, schools were closed Monday in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, Basehor-Linwood School District, Lansing School District, Leavenworth School District, Easton School District, and Lawrence Public Schools, Newsweek reports.
Kentucky School Closings
In Kentucky, all Jefferson County Public Schools were closed Monday. Schools in Boyle, Fayette, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Menifee, Mercer, Morgan, Powell, Robertson, Rowan and Wolfe counties were also closed.
Washington, D.C., School Closings
Washington, D.C., public schools announced Sunday that all buildings would be closed Monday. All Philadelphia public schools and government buildings were also closed.
Virginia, West Virginia School Closings
In West Virginia, public schools were closed Tuesday in over 30 of its 55 counties. The state’s full list of closures can be found here. In Virginia, Culpepper County Public Schools and Loudoun County Public Schools remained closed through Wednesday.
Missouri, Nebraska School Closings
In Missouri, Independence School District and Raytown School District were closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Schools were also closed Wednesday in Grand Island Public Schools, which is Central Nebraska’s largest school district.
Indiana School Closings
According to Courier & Press, Wednesday school closings in Indiana include:
- Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
- Evansville Catholic schools
- Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools
- Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Dubois schools
- Washington Catholic and Community schools
- Warrick County schools
- North, South and East Gibson schools
- MSD of North Posey County schools
- MSD of Mount Vernon schools
- Henderson County schools
- South and North Spencer schools
- Union County schools
- Pike County schools
Texas, New Mexico School Districts Cancel, Delay Classes
El Paso Independent School District in Texas announced schools would be closed Wednesday due to plunging temperatures and potential snow. El Paso Leadership Academy also canceled classes Wednesday, as did Canutillo Independent School District.
San Elizario Independent School District, located in El Paso County, also announced schools were closed Wednesday due to possible hazardous road conditions and uncertain weather, Yahoo reports. Other districts in El Paso County that canceled classes Wednesday include Fabens Independent School District and Clint Independent School District.
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Other Texas schools announced a two-hour delay Wednesday, including Socorro Independent School District and Canutillo Independent School District, both in El Paso, IDEA Public Schools in Weslaco, and Anthony Independent School District in Anthony.
In Sunland Park, N.M., Gadsden Independent School District also announced a two-hour delay Wednesday due to forecasted “very low temperatures.”
