Lincoln Public Schools Closed on January 23rd, 2026: Battening Down for the Extreme Cold

Brutal Arctic blast forces school closures in Lincoln, Nebraska as the city braces for bone-chilling temperatures.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:45pm

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A vast, frozen landscape painting in muted tones of blue and gray, with a distant horizon line and a sense of overwhelming scale, conveying the harsh, unforgiving nature of the extreme cold weather conditions.As a brutal Arctic blast grips Lincoln, the decision to close schools underscores the community's resilience in the face of extreme weather.Lincoln Today

The Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) have canceled classes on Friday, January 23, 2026, as the city prepares for an extreme cold snap with wind chills expected to plummet to -20 to -25°F. All LPS buildings will be closed, and non-LPS activities scheduled in the schools have been called off. The LPS Library Services team is providing special activities for students during this unexpected break to ensure learning and engagement continue.

Why it matters

The decision to close schools highlights the serious public safety concerns posed by dangerously low temperatures. Extreme weather events like this can have significant impacts on a community, disrupting daily life and requiring coordinated emergency response efforts.

The details

In addition to canceling classes, all LPS buildings will be closed to external bookings, and non-LPS activities scheduled in the schools on Friday have been called off. This includes various events and practices, although some high school activities may still go ahead as planned. Parents and students are advised to check with their respective high schools for confirmation.

  • The Lincoln Public Schools have canceled classes on Friday, January 23, 2026.
  • Wind chills are expected to plummet to -20 to -25°F on January 23, 2026.

The players

Lincoln Public Schools (LPS)

The public school district serving the city of Lincoln, Nebraska.

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What’s next

The LPS Library Services team has stepped in to provide special activities for students during this unexpected break, ensuring that learning and engagement continue even when the weather says otherwise. These activities can be accessed on their website, offering a fun and educational distraction from the cold.

The takeaway

The closure of Lincoln Public Schools due to the extreme cold snap highlights the importance of preparedness and prioritizing public safety in the face of severe weather events. This incident serves as a reminder of the need for communities to have robust emergency response plans in place to protect vulnerable populations and ensure continuity of essential services.