Centre County schools delay and close, warming centers open as extreme cold continues
With another day of near-record-low temperatures in the forecast across central Pennsylvania, some Centre County schools have announced delayed starts or virtual instruction for Wednesday’s classes.
The National Weather Service issued early Tuesday morning a revised cold weather advisory that stretches through noon Wednesday. The agency says central Pennsylvania could observe wind chills as low as minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, which could produce frostbite and hypothermia if people don’t take proper precautions.
AccuWeather’s forecast for State College calls for a 13-degree high and a 6-degree low on Wednesday.
Taking proper precautions, including covering exposed skin and dressing in warm layers, can help reduce the risk of frostbite and hypothermia, the NWS says. Several warming shelters are popping up across Centre County to help those in need get out of the extreme cold this week.
Here’s what you need to know about available shelters and planned impacts on the school day across Centre County.
School delays and closures
State College Area School District said Tuesday afternoon that schools will operate on a two-hour delay Wednesday due to “extreme cold temperatures.” The district delayed school by two hours on Tuesday as well.
Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District, meanwhile, will operate with a Remote Instruction Day on Wednesday. The district first planned for a two-hour delay Tuesday before transitioning to a Remote Instruction Day due to “a loss of heat at Philipsburg Elementary School” and several buses encountering mechanical issues in the cold weather, the district said in its announcement. District officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the exact reasoning behind Wednesday’s planned Remote Instruction Day.
At this time, it remains unclear if Bellefonte Area School District, Bald Eagle Area School District and Penns Valley Area School District will modify plans for Wednesday’s classes. All three districts operated with a normal school day Tuesday.
Warm shelter available
“Warming centers” are available around the county as bitterly cold temperatures settle in.
The Howard Fire Company can open its J.K. Yearick Center as a warming station for those who need a place to warm up, the company posted on Facebook. People can message them on Facebook or call the non-emergency number for the communications center at 800-479-0050.
Trinity Bellefonte, a church at 128 W. Howard St., Bellefonte, said it will remain open for 24 hours for the next few days as a warming shelter. The church encouraged people to stop by to warm up and get coffee.
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM.
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