Extreme Cold Temperatures Continue Second Day

The threat of below-zero temperatures and wind chills has schools in Oak Lawn and around the south suburbs closing again for a second time this year.

The National Weather Service has a wind chill warning on the area in effect until 9 a.m. Wednesday, with wind chills expected to be between 30 and 45 degrees below zero.

Patch will continue to update with more closings as we hear about them. Feel free to include weather-related information about your business or school in the comments.

We will be updating our Facebook page throughout the day, so "like" Oak Lawn Patch on Facebook.

Oak Lawn Park District

All scheduled park district programs and activities are canceled Tuesday, but park facilities will be OPEN to the public. Two of those facilities, the Oak Lawn Community Pavilion and the Racquet Club will be open as warming centers.

Visit the park district web site in the right hand corner for weather-related info about programs and classes.

Oak Lawn Library

The library will be open as a warming center during business hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Call ahead to find out if scheduled programs have been postponed, at 708 422-4990. We understand that the library was quite popular when schools were closed earlier this month.

Village of Oak Lawn

Regular trash pickup will take place Tuesday and Wednesday AS SCHEDULED, so bring those trash cans to the curb.

As with any hazardous weather situation, please check on elderly or disabled neighbors and family members. Don't hesitate to call 911 for emergencies. If you think it’s an emergency call 911.

Schools

Virtually all of Oak Lawn’s public and parochial schools ARE CLOSED TUESDAY. Patch will monitor school closures for Oak Lawn and nearby communities on Tuesday afternoon, but the arctic freeze is expected to leave the area by Wednesday morning.

Read, Oak Lawn-Area School Closings, Jan. 28

Moraine Valley Community College will be CLOSED AGAIN ON TUESDAY.

Saint Xavier University will be OPEN TUESDAY, but check the university’s website for weather updates.

We advise calling pre-schools, day care centers and private schools to determine if they are open or closed on Monday.

PLEASE REFER TO OUR SCHOOL CLOSINGS LIST TO DETERMINE THE LATEST SCHOOL CLOSURES.

Warming Centers

The Oak Lawn Police Department lobby at 9446 S. Raymond Ave. will be open on an emergency basis as a warming center.

If you are homeless or are aware of a homeless person in your neighborhood or business, please call OLPD’s non-emergency number at 708-422-8292 or South Suburban PADS’ North Tier Office at 708-233-1221 if you need shelter.

Should there be larger event involving a large number of people for an extended period of time, such as a power outage, the village will open a temporary shelter at Oak Lawn Village Hall or other buildings depending on the amount of people and projected duration.

For the duration of the extreme cold, Oak Lawn is opening its warming centers, which are:

Oak Lawn Public Library

9427 Raymond Avenue.

Mon-Thu 9am-9pm

Fri & Sat 9am-5pm

Sun 1pm-5pm

Oak Lawn Senior Center

5220 W. 105th Street

Mon-Fri 8:30am- 5pm

Sun 1pm-5pm

Oak Lawn Park District Pavilion

9401 Oak Park Avenue

Monday - Thursday 6am-11pm

Friday 6am-10pm

Sat & Sun 7am-10pm

Oak Lawn Racquet and Fitness Club

10444 South Central

Mon & Wed 6am-11pm

Tue, Thu & Fri 6am-10pm

Sat 7am-9pm

Sun 7am-8pm

Essential numbers:

• Oak Lawn Senior Center -- 708- 499-0240. The senior center will be open as a warming center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Call if you need assistance.

• Oak Lawn Police non-emergency number -- 708-422-8292. Call in a non-emergency situation, such as to report downed electrical wires, lack of heat in your rental unit, etc.

• South Suburban PADS -- 708-233-1221 -- Contact PADS' north tier office in Oak Lawn if you need shelter in the Oak Lawn area. (Call 911 if you spot a homeless person, or anyone, in distress on the street.)