Lakeville Area Public Schools Closed Thursday

Lakeville Public Schools are closed on Thursday, Jan. 23, the district has announced. The message on the district's Facebook page reads as follows:

Lakeville Area Parents, Students & Staff:

Once again, we are faced with extreme cold and dangerous weather conditions for our students. It is so difficult to make this decision, but when wind chills dip to the negative 30s and 40s, many become concerned with how quickly frostbite and injury can occur. Reports for tomorrow include very windy conditions that will add to the concern.

As a result, tomorrow, Thursday, January 23rd, Lakeville Area Public Schools will be closed due to these extreme conditions. Since the conditions are expected to improve throughout the day, afternoon activities will go on as scheduled. Check the schools' websites for details. All staff are expected to report to work or meet the conditions of their contract.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory until 12 p.m. on Thursday.

A WIND CHILL WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL...CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THROUGH NOON THURSDAY. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL AVERAGE BETWEEN 35 TO 45 BELOW ZERO THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING.

A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THE COMBINATION OF VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.