If extreme cold temperatures weren’t enough, rolling blackouts associated with an historic winter storm system has prompted schools across the region to cancel classes Tuesday.
That includes Kansas State University, which, in an unprecedented move canceled all in-person and remote learning after 5 p.m. Monday, continuing through Tuesday. Essential employees were told they should report to work or contact their supervisors if unable to report in.
On-campus dining services on both the Manhattan and Polytechnic campus in Salina are operating with reduced hours. Lafene Health Center also will be closed.
The university attributed the move due to Monday’s rolling blackouts implemented by utilities including Evergy in response to the Southwest Power Pool’s request from utilities to implement controlled, temporary emergency electricity reductions to avoid larger uncontrolled and extended outages throughout the region. The rolling blackouts concluded Monday afternoon, but the utility announced it could resume them in the coming days if necessary.
Manhattan Area Technical College and Cloud County Community College campuses also announced closures Tuesday.
Elsewhere, USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden, USD 378 Riley County and USD 384 Blue Valley school districts all announced they too would call of classes Tuesday. USD 320 Wamego, USD 323 Rock Creek also announced similar decisions. Fort Riley has also announced it is implementing a 2 hour delay to operations Tuesday. The Pottawatomie County Transportation (“Mini-Bus”) program will also not be active Tuesday. A full list of closings and delays can be found here.
Temperatures aren’t supposed to rebound to more seasonal conditions until late in the week, with forecasts expected in the 30s and 40s by Friday and Saturday.
