(AP) — Many school districts in Iowa and Nebraska will remain closed Monday because of the dangerously cold weather.

Wind chills as cold as 55 degrees below zero are expected in parts of Iowa Monday morning, and Nebraska could see wind chills of 40 degrees below zero.

Many school officials decided that would be too cold to have students standing outside waiting for buses, so they cancelled.

The list of closings includes Des Moines, Iowa, schools, and most districts in Lincoln and Omaha, Neb.

Des Moines school spokesman Phil Roeder says the last time the district cancelled classes for cold temperatures alone was in January 2009.

Lincoln superintendent Steve Joel says student safety had to come first. He says temperatures this cold are rare in Lincoln.

Stay up to date on area school closings and cancellations here.