UPDATE: The University of Wisconsin-Madison has called off classes Tuesday night through Thursday morning, according to our sister station WISC-TV.
Weather Update: In response to the extreme cold, UW is canceling classes, events and campus activities beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday through noon Thursday.
During this period, only essential campus services will be operating.
More details: https://t.co/QySVMdq8G3
— UW-Madison (@UWMadison) January 29, 2019
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Cancellations are in high numbers throughout southeast Wisconsin as the area prepares to be hit with near record-breaking low temperatures.
But some are still awaiting final decisions on if their schools or jobs will be open amid 60 below zero wind chill temperatures.
One University of Wisconsin-Madison student took matters into their own hands and created a petition to speed up the decision.
The petition "Please Cancel Classes on Jan. 29-30 UW-Madison" has collected over 11, 000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
"It is the coldest time in 40 years and even 10 mins outdoors without appropriate protection will be very risky for frostbite. Due to the snowy weather, bus lines are restricted and sidewalks are slippery, making it inconvenient and most importantly, unsafe for students to go to classes," the creator Hairu Zheng wrote.
A few UW schools have already canceled classes including Whitewater, Stout, River Falls and Steven's Point.