OHIO — Continuing extreme cold, dangerous wind chills and lingering winter weather impacts are prompting a range of school closures, delays and altered schedules across Ohio for Thursday, January 29, 2026. Districts statewide are adjusting plans to protect student and staff safety on roads and school grounds following a major winter storm that dropped heavy snow and brought dangerously cold conditions earlier in the week.
Northeast and North-Central Ohio
In areas including Stark, Carroll, Tuscarawas and surrounding counties, a mix of school closures and delays has been announced due to hazardously low wind chill forecasts Thursday morning:
- Closed Thursday: Alliance City Schools, Canton City Schools, Carrollton Exempted Village Schools, Fairless Local Schools, Louisville City Schools, Massillon City Schools, Minerva Local Schools, Osnaburg Local Schools, Sandy Valley Local Schools, United Local Schools, and several private/parochial schools.
- Remote Learning/Adjusted Instruction: Indian Creek Schools will operate with remote instruction Thursday.
- Two-Hour Delay: Buckeye Career Center, Claymont City Schools, Dover City Schools, Garaway Local Schools, Indian Valley Local Schools, New Philadelphia City Schools and Tuscarawas County Board of DD School will open two hours later than normal.
Officials in these districts cited dangerous wind chills and cold-weather hazards as the reason for the decisions.
Greater Cincinnati Region
Across the Greater Cincinnati area, multiple districts are continuing to cancel classes, implement delays or shift to virtual learning for a fourth consecutive day, influenced by extreme cold temperatures, wind chills well below zero and ongoing hazardous travel conditions.
A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect Thursday morning in Adams, Pike, Brown, Butler, Clermont and Hamilton counties, with wind chills expected to stay dangerously low and highs remaining below typical winter comfort levels.
Central Ohio and Statewide Conditions
Heavy snow from Winter Storm Fern buried parts of Central Ohio over the weekend, including in Columbus, where nearly a foot of snow accumulation and a Level 2 snow emergency contributed to earlier closures and travel restrictions this week.
While specific closure lists vary by county and district, school officials statewide have repeatedly cited icy roads, snow-packed surfaces and wind chills that can make waiting for buses or walking to school dangerous as core reasons for maintaining modified schedules for Thursday. Families are encouraged to check with their local district’s official website or alert system for the most up-to-date details…