Which one do you mean?
Your odds will show up here.
Type the school's ZIP code or city above, then press Calculate. It takes a few seconds.
Estimate only, not an official closure notice.
Why this estimate
Show the forecast in three-hour blocks
| Time | Snow | Temp | Chance of rain or snow |
|---|
Marked rows overlap 3 to 8 am, the early morning planning window.
All forecast numbers used
This is an estimate, not an official closure notice. Only your school district can close schools. Check its website, app or local news before the morning. How we calculate this.
What are the chances of a snow day tomorrow?
You get two numbers. The snow day chance is how likely your district is to cancel the whole day. The delay chance is the extra chance that school still opens, just late (usually a 2-hour delay). The scale below describes the closure chance. The snow day number stops at 95%, because no forecast is a sure thing.
- 0 to 19% Low
- The model suggests a low closure chance. Prepare for school and check your district.
- 20 to 49% Maybe
- A closure is possible. Check again before bed and in the morning.
- 50 to 79% Likely
- The model suggests a higher closure chance. Have a backup plan and check your district.
- 80 to 95% Very likely
- The model suggests a high closure chance. Wait for your district to confirm.
How to use the snow day calculator
Type a ZIP code or a city (or tap "Use my location"), pick the kind of school, and choose tomorrow or today. The model assumes rural districts are more likely to close than city schools, and colleges less likely. It does not know your school's own policy. The bigger question is when to look:
- EveningFirst look. Check the forecast and make a backup plan if winter weather is expected.
- Before bedCheck again. Review the latest forecast and any district announcement. Forecasts can still change.
- Early morningCheck your district. Look for an official closure or delay. Announcement times vary.
- Before leavingConfirm the plan. Check your district’s website or alert service before setting off.
A school closing calculator for snow days and 2-hour delays
A closure usually means the roads will not be safe at any point in the morning: a big overnight storm, ice, or cold so severe that kids cannot wait at bus stops. A 2-hour delay buys time when the trouble is short: an inch or two right before dawn, slick spots that will be treated by 9, or a cold snap that eases after sunrise. An early dismissal happens when the storm arrives during the school day. That is why the calculator shows a separate delay chance and lists snow during school hours on its own.
Use the same tool as a school delay calculator: the late start percentage estimates a delay rather than a full closure. It does not predict an exact opening time or an early dismissal time. Your district announces those. See how the late start chance is worked out from the same forecast factors.
What this snow day predictor looks at
Every district is really asking one thing: can the buses run safely at 6:30 in the morning? So these are the numbers we pull from the forecast:
- Overnight snowSnow from 6 pm to 8 am: everything the plows have to clear before the first bus.
- The 4 to 8 am windowSnow that falls while buses roll out counts extra. A fresh inch at 6 am is the classic 2-hour delay.
- IceA thin glaze of freezing rain can shut bus routes that would run fine on six inches of snow.
- Wind chillIn the northern states, bitter cold before 8 am can close schools on its own, with no snow at all.
- WindStrong gusts blow snow back across roads that were already cleared.
- NWS warningsWinter storm, ice storm and blizzard warnings add weight. Forecasters only issue them for serious weather.
How much snow it takes depends mostly on where you live. Southern districts have few plows, so a small amount can stop the buses, while snow-belt districts plow through much bigger storms. Timing matters as much as the amount: three inches that stop falling at 10 pm are often gone by morning, while one inch at 6 am can mean a delay. How much snow it takes to cancel school, by region.
Quick answers
How accurate is this snow day calculator?
Only as good as the forecast behind it, and forecasts move. The evening before is the best time to check. Districts have their own rules too, so read the number as a guide, not a promise. How accurate it is, and why.
Where does the weather data come from?
From the National Weather Service (NOAA), the official US forecast. We request data when you search. Forecasts are cached for up to 30 minutes and alerts for 5 minutes; your browser may reuse a result for up to 10 minutes. NWS updates may arrive less often.
Does it work outside the US?
Not yet. The National Weather Service only covers the United States, so Canadian postal codes will not work.
Can I check today's snow day chances?
Yes. Choose Today while the school morning is still ahead. Earlier snow and ice may be missing from the remaining forecast, so read the time shown with the result. After the school morning, check your district's announcement instead.
Does it work as a college snow day calculator?
Choose College or university under Kind of school. The model uses a lower closure estimate for colleges; it does not know an individual campus's decision. Private school is also an option. Check your school's own alerts before changing your plans. Here is why colleges close less often than K-12 schools.
Can cold alone close schools?
Yes. In the northern states many districts close or delay when the wind chill before the buses run drops to somewhere around -20°F to -35°F, even on a dry day. The calculator counts wind chill for that reason. How cold it has to be to cancel school.
Can ice cause a school closing without much snow?
Yes. Freezing rain can affect roads and bus routes even when little snow is forecast. The tool includes forecast ice accumulation alongside snow and cold, so you can check the same location without using a separate ice day calculator. The method page lists the ice amounts the model uses for each region.
Will my school be closed tomorrow?
The percentage is a weather-based estimate, not a list of confirmed school closings. Check your district's website or alert service for an announcement. A low percentage cannot confirm that school is open, and a high one cannot confirm a closure.
Why is my number different from another snow day calculator?
Each site uses its own data and its own rules. Ours uses the hourly National Weather Service grid for your exact point, looks at timing as well as totals, and adjusts for how used to snow your state is. We show every input, so you can see why.
Does it know how many snow days my district has left?
No. Districts that have used up their built-in snow days sometimes push harder to stay open, and some switch to remote learning instead. Keep that in mind late in the winter. How many snow days schools get.
Do you store my location?
Your last search, up to four recent searches, and school type are saved in your browser. Forecast lookups use rounded coordinates and temporary server caches. The privacy policy has the details, including how to clear saved searches.
Snow day guides
- How much snow does it take to cancel school? Snow thresholds and regional differences.
- How cold does it have to be to cancel school? Wind chill, air temperature and district examples.
- How many snow days do schools get? State rules and makeup days.
- Snow day superstitions Where the traditions come from.