# Snow days in Maine

Source: https://calculatesnowday.com/states/maine

Maine schools need at least 175 instructional days within a 180-day year ([Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4801](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec4801.pdf)), and a remote day can count when the school provides meals and meets the instructional-day rules ([Maine Department of Education](https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/schoolops/waivers)). The calculator puts Maine in its snowiest level.

By [Muhammad Shakeel](https://calculatesnowday.com/about#editor). Updated 3 November 2026 for the 2026-27 school year. School rules and district plans change; check your district.

## Winter weather that closes Maine schools

- **Ice storms.** In January 1998, the most significant icing of that historic ice storm fell across most of New Hampshire and much of central and southern Maine ([NWS service assessment](https://www.weather.gov/media/publications/assessments/iceflood.pdf)). Ice can close schools here even when snow alone would not.
- **Coastal snow.** Portland's 1991-2020 normal is 68.7 inches of snow a year ([NWS Gray annual climate report](https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=nws&product=cla&issuedby=pwm)).

## How many snow days do Maine schools get?

A school unit must keep its schools open at least 180 days a year, with at least 175 days of instruction ([Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4801](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec4801.pdf)). The Department of Education says a unit that provides meals and meets the instructional-day requirements may count a remote day ([Maine Department of Education](https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/schoolops/waivers)).

### What Maine districts have published

Portland Public Schools' 2025-26 plan used up to three traditional snow days, then remote learning days in place of snow days ([Portland Public Schools](https://www.portlandschools.org/calendars/snow-day-plans-2025-2026)). Check the district's plan for 2026-27.

## How the calculator treats Maine

The calculator reads the National Weather Service forecast for the exact point you enter, so the snow, ice, wind chill and alerts are local. What changes by state is how much of each it takes to raise the estimate:

Level 4 of 4: Snow belt: schools are well prepared

For a suburban public school in Maine, any one of these gives the model about an even chance of a closure on its own:

- **7.5 in** of snow from 6 pm to 8 am (snow between 4 and 8 am counts extra)
- **0.15 in** of ice from freezing rain, from the evening before to the end of the school day
- a wind chill of **-30°F** between midnight and 8 am

This is already the snowiest level, so elevation does not change it. These are model assumptions, not district rules. [How the snow levels work](https://calculatesnowday.com/how-it-works#snow-levels).

All of Maine uses the snowiest level, so the estimate needs a big storm, real ice or deep cold before it climbs.

## Before you rely on the number

The percentage is an estimate from the weather forecast, not an official closure notice. It cannot see road conditions, staffing, buses or how many snow days your district has left, and it does not know a decision that has already been announced. Read [how accurate the estimate is](https://calculatesnowday.com/how-it-works#accuracy) and [what it leaves out](https://calculatesnowday.com/how-it-works#limits).

## Questions and answers

### Do Maine schools use remote days instead of snow days?

Some do. A remote day can count when the school provides meals and meets the instructional-day requirements ([Maine Department of Education](https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/schoolops/waivers)). Portland Public Schools' 2025-26 plan switched to remote days after three snow days ([Portland Public Schools](https://www.portlandschools.org/calendars/snow-day-plans-2025-2026)).

### How many school days does Maine require?

At least 180 days a year, with at least 175 days used for instruction ([Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4801](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec4801.pdf)).

### Will school be closed tomorrow in Maine?

Only your district can say. The [snow day calculator](https://calculatesnowday.com/) estimates the chance of a closure or late start from the National Weather Service forecast for your school's ZIP code, but it does not know announced decisions. Check your district's website, app or texts.

More: [how much snow it takes to cancel school](https://calculatesnowday.com/guides/how-much-snow-to-cancel-school), [how cold it has to be](https://calculatesnowday.com/guides/how-cold-to-cancel-school), and [snow day rules in other states](https://calculatesnowday.com/guides/how-many-snow-days).