Brutal cold settles in across the region

Many schools planned to close Wednesday as frigidly cold weather tightened its grip on the region.

Public, private and charter schools across Lake and Porter counties and Chicago's south suburbs announced the closures Tuesday night. Check http://www.nwi.com/weather/closings for a full listing.

The cold came as crews continued to clean up following several inches of snow Monday night and a six-car pileup injured two people Tuesday on I-65 at the Jasper County/White County line.

The National Weather Service issued a wind chill warning for Cook County and Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties from midnight Tuesday to noon Thursday. LaPorte County was under a wind chill warning from 11 p.m. Tuesday to 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Wind chills are expected to dip to 30 to 35 degrees below zero early Wednesday and rise to just 25 to 30 below zero during the day, forecasters said. Wednesday's high temperature was expected to hover around zero.

Lake-effect snow was expected Tuesday night into Wednesday in LaPorte County, with up to 6 inches possible in the northeastern part of the county. Strong winds in other parts of the region could cause snow to drift and reduce visibility, forecasters said.

On Wednesday night, wind chills were expected to drop back to 30 to 35 below zero with a low temperature between zero and minus 10.

The weather service warned any exposed skin in such harsh conditions could be prone to frostbite in a matter of minutes. Pets should be brought inside, they said.

The impending cold prompted local officials to open several warming centers.

The North Township trustee's offices at 5947 Hohman Ave. and 2835 165th St. will be open to those seeking warmth from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Thursday.

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Brutal cold settles in across the region