Today’s Chicago weather update: Park Ridge Maine South High School cancels classes due to a burst pipe in the cold; snow in the forecast.

CHICAGO (WLS) — The frigid weather in the Chicago area is causing some pipes to burst and water mains to break.

Classes are canceled Wednesday for Maine South High School in Park Ridge, after a sprinkler line water pipe burst before the school day started.

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Students are being allowed to stay in common areas of the school for the day.

Parents have the flexibility to pick up their children from school at any time. Additionally, the school administration is currently exploring the possibility of arranging for buses to pick up students before the usual dismissal time.

Water flooded the intersection near Western Avenue and Jackson Boulevard Tuesday, turning it into an ice rink, as crews worked to fix the break.

There’s also a water main break between the 2600- and 2800-block of Highland Avenue in Berwyn.

Wind chills were well below zero Wednesday morning.

A cold advisory ended at midnight Wednesday, but snow is expected in the afternoon and evening, with temperatures in the low 20s.

Weather forecasts predict a light snowfall ranging from a dusting to about an inch, with certain areas potentially experiencing up to 2 inches of snow. While this amount may not seem significant, it is adequate to cause slippery conditions on the roads throughout the day, particularly on Wednesday evening.

The city of Chicago has opened warming centers for the extreme cold. Residents can also call 311 for more information about warming centers.

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During extremely cold weather, it takes less than 10 minutes for frostbite to occur on exposed skin. To safeguard against this risk, it is advisable for individuals to wear warm coats, hats, and gloves when venturing outside. Connor Smith, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Bismarck, emphasized the importance of minimizing outdoor exposure time under such harsh weather conditions.

Warning signs of frostbite include numbness, pale or waxy skin, redness or pain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends immediately getting out of the cold and into a warmer environment if this occurs. Avoid rubbing the frostbitten area or walking on frostbitten feet or toes, as this can cause more damage. Instead, put the frostbitten areas in warm – not hot – water. If this is not available, use body heat from other parts of the body to warm the area, such as by placing frostbitten hands or fingers in an armpit. Do not use heating pads or heat from a stove, as the affected areas may easily burn.

People with asthma, chronic lung disease, or other respiratory conditions or illnesses are at higher risk when temperatures drop because cold, dry air irritates the airways, said Dr. Haitham Khraishah, a preventive cardiologist at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and an assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

This leads to greater inflammation and causes muscles around the airways to constrict, which can lead to wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath or a burning feeling in the chest, especially during exertion.

AP News contributed to this report.

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