UPDATE: 3:32 PM, Wednesday, Feb. 24:
What is closing early:
Stephens Family YMCA will close at 4 p.m.
UPDATE: 2:44 PM, Wednesday, Feb. 24:
What is Closing Early:
Carle, Christie Clinic, U of I Community Credit Union have announced early closings.
UPDATE: 8:52 AM, Wednesday, Feb. 24:
What is Open:
Busey Bank. “A blizzard warning is in effect for Central Illinois until 9 p.m. CST. At this time, all impacted Busey locations will remain open during regular business hours. Stay connected with us throughout the day for updates!
Art Mart: According to owner Brian McKay: “We’re doing $1 pastries and $1 hot chocolate all day. We may set up a crafting table. I’m sure Todd will be tasting wine….”
Urbana Park District. According to the UPD Facebook page: “We are monitoring the weather situation. As of now all facilities remain open. If and when a change is announced it will be posted here, on Twitter and on our website.”
UPDATE: 7:04 AM, Wednesday, Feb. 24:
The US National Weather Service in Central Illinois has updated its forecast and is now predicting 9 inches of snow for Champaign-Urbana. “A band of moderate to heavy snow has set up from St Louis, between Springfield & Decatur, and across I-57 just south of Kankakee. This band should not move much over the next couple of hours. Snowfall rates up to an inch per hour are possible beneath this band. Meanwhile, an area of moderate to heavy rainfall, with some snow mixed in, lies along/south of I-70 in southeast Illinois. This area of precipitation is moving slowly to the northwest and is expected to change over to all snow by later this morning.”
UPDATE: 8:52 AM, Wednesday Feb. 24:
We’re starting to hear that other places beyond schools are closing today. If you have to go somewhere, CALL BEFORE YOU GO.
Closed TODAY:
Champaign Urbana Public Health Department
Champaign County Courthouse, Brookens Administrative Center and Sheriff’s Office: All will be closed today. Decisions on scheduled County Administrator Search activities will be made later today.
Champaign Public Library: Closed.
City of Champaign: Facilities Closed. City Facilities are closed today (City Building and Public Works) for routine operations. Emergency operations will continue http://rgn.bz/5jME
Champaign Park District (via email): Due to the winter storm, Champaign Park District offices and facilities will be closed today. Cancellation information can always be found online at champaignparks.com. Email and text alerts are also available upon sign-up.
Windsor Road Christian Church indoor PLAYGROUND is closed today, 2/24/16.
City of Urbana: The city building is closed today due to inclement weather. As of now, they plan on opening tomorrow morning.
Urbana Free Library: Closed.
UPDATE: 6:04 AM, Wednesday Feb. 24:
Don’t listen to the Snow Day Calculator for today (67 percent? WHAT???) … most area districts, if not all in Champaign County, have called off school for Wednesday, Feb. 24. In many cases, when public schools close – preschools close and even some daycare centers close. So we’re not going to list all of them. If something is open, that’s NEWS!
Champaign Unit 4 Schools Closed: Due to today’s weather conditions, Champaign Unit 4 School District will not hold school. Only Essential Personnel Group 2 is to report. All evening activities are cancelled.
Urbana Schools Closed: “Message from Supt. Owen (to the tune of On Urbana). Due to winter weather, all Urbana schools will be closed today, Wed, 2/24. Personnel do not report. Main and grounds will be contacted by supervisors about when to report.
Mahomet-Seymour Schools Closed: ” Blizzard warnings with 8-12 inches predicted now as the forecast has worsened.”
St. Matthew Catholic School Closed: School cancelled Wednesday, February 24 due to weather conditions.
Heritage District Closed: “Heritage Schools, Spectrum, and Parkland College students- School cancelled for today 2-24-2016. No games or practices today”
Tuscola: NO SCHOOL today… Wednesday, February 24, 2016.
Unity School District closed: Confirmed by Faculty
St. Joseph-Ogden High School closed: Confirmed by Faculty
Monticello CUSD: “Monticello CUSD 25 closed today (2/24) due to forecasted winter conditions. All school activities are canceled for today.”
Parkland College: “All classes, programs, and services have been cancelled at Parkland College for today and this evening (2-24-2016), and all offices are closed as well. This notice includes classes at Area Learning Centers and the Child Development Center. All access roads to campus will be closed, as well as no service by the MTD.”
University High School Closed: Multiple parents reporting.
Countryside School Closed
St. Thomas More Closed, Feb. 24
POSTED TUESDAY, FEB 23 (We will post updates above)
So, here’s what we know: there were long lines at grocery stores in Champaign-Urbana tonight. Lots of milk, eggs and bread were coming off the shelf. 
And, we know of, as of 9:13 p.m. on Tuesday, that at least one Champaign school – Judah Christian – has announced it won’t be in session on Wednesday, Feb. 24. (Email us your closings, or add them in the comments).
We also know that as of 5 pm, the US National Weather Service in Central Illinois posted on Facebook that a “major” storm is on the way.
“The heaviest snowfall axis will be focused along the I-57 corridor…where amounts of 6 to 7 inches will be likely from Tuscola northward to Champaign-Urbana and Danville.”
When will this happen?
“The most significant snow will occur from Wednesday morning through mid-afternoon before diminishing to flurries late in the day.”
And what else do we need to know?
“In addition to the snow, strong northerly winds gusting to between 40 and 45 mph will create significant blowing and drifting snow.”
So, what’s the chance of a snow day? According to snowdaycalculator.com, pretty high. Just enter in your zip code, and more info … and voila. When I last checked for Champaign, it was 89 percent chance for Wednesday and 76 percent for Thursday.
