Schools cancel, warming centers open as dangerously cold weather moves in

Nebraska schools are canceling classes Friday as a brutal winter storm blows into the U.S.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service predict an arctic front will bring frigid temperatures to the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., including Nebraska. Sub-zero lows will spread from the Northern and Central Plains into the Northeast through Sunday. Strong winds are expected to accompany the low temps, bringing dangerous wind chills that could lead to hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin.

Dozens of school districts across the state are heeding the warnings by canceling Friday classes, including Ainsworth in the Panhandle to Ord in central Nebraska and Lincoln Public Schools and Omaha Public Schools. Several cities, including Lincoln and Omaha, are activating warming centers for people seeking reprieve from the frigid temps.

The low temperatures are expected to stretch through the weekend. An extreme cold warning will be in effect from midnight Friday to noon in parts of central and northeastern Nebraska, where wind chills could fall as low as 32 below zero. The National Weather Service warned the weather could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes and could rupture water pipes.

For the southern half of the state, a cold advisory will be in place from midnight Friday through noon central time Friday. Wind chills from southwest Nebraska to the southeast could dip as low as 29 below.

In northwestern Nebraska, a winter weather advisory will be in effect from 5 a.m. Mountain Time Friday morning to 5 a.m. Saturday. Meteorologists expect 2-4 inches of snow to fall there, which could create slippery road conditions that could affect Friday commutes.

Several other parts of Nebraska have shots at seeing snow late Friday and Saturday with snow accumulations ranging from 1-3 inches. Higher snow totals are expected near the Nebraska-Kansas border.

On Friday morning, the Lincoln Electric System said it would be sending two line crews with 12 employees to assist utilities in North Carolina, where officials are expecting power restoration efforts in the impending winter storm. The American Public Power Association is helping coordinate mutual aid across the southeast, where dangerous winter weather is forecast to make the most damage with destructive ice and heavy snow.

"Our crews train year-round to be ready for situations like this," Paul Crist, vice president of Energy Delivery, said. "Traveling ahead of the storm gives us the best chance to reach the area safely and begin restoration work as soon as conditions allow. When people are facing severe weather and potential outages, every minute matters."