Updated: Snow, wind chills cause more closures for Thursday in the Wichita area
Here are places that plan to be closed Thursday because of impending snow and negative wind chill.
Wichita had 5.5-plus inches fall overnight Wednesday and 1 to 1.5 inches were expected to continue to fall throughout the evening. The snow-packed roads led to over 100 calls to Sedgwick County 911 for accidents within the first 12 hours after snow began falling.
Wind chills are supposed to drop into the negatives Thursday morning.
Wichita schools
Students at Wichita Public Schools and Catholic schools will have another snow day Feb. 3.
Officials at Wichita Public Schools expect to have classes Friday. Any additional updates will be posted on the district’s site at www.usd259.org.
Wichita, which is the largest school district in the state, and other area districts closed schools Wednesday in anticipation of the overnight snowstorm. But the snow continued to trickle throughout the day Wednesday, forcing schools to again close on Thursday.
USD 259 said schools would be closed Thursday because of “anticipated snow accumulation this evening, and the time needed to assure our campuses are cleared and safe for staff and students.”
“All schools and non-attendance centers (AMAC, SSC, IST, Dunbar and ISC) will be closed,” the district said. “This includes cancellation of all after-school activities and practices.”
Some employees, including snow removal crews and custodians, would still have to work.
Suburban schools
Maize and Andover schools also won’t have class on Feb. 3.
Zoo
Officials with the Sedgwick County Zoo confirmed over email said the zoo will remain closed to the public on Feb. 3.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels announced that there will be no deliveries Feb. 3. Clients are advised to use one of their emergency shelf stable meals, a press release said.
City of Wichita facilities
The Great Plains Nature Center will remain closed Thursday Feb. 3. All other city facilities will reopen.
WSU Tech
All WSU Tech campuses will remain closed Feb. 3. Classes will be held virtually, an email said.
“Students should look for communication from their instructor via Blackboard or their WSU Tech student email account. Employees should work remotely. Those employees whose work is essential to campus operations should contact their supervisor for more information,” Andy McFayden, executive director of strategic communications, said.
Hunter Health
Hunter Health will be closed on Feb. 3. Any affected appointments will be rescheduled. Locations will reopen at 8 a.m. Feb. 4.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 2:12 PM.