Snow days in Boston
Boston Public Schools has closed for dangerous cold as well as snow, and because Massachusetts does not allow remote learning on snow days, closures are made up later in the year. Enter a school's ZIP code below to see the chance of a closure or late start from the latest National Weather Service forecast. The number is an estimate; the district makes the call.
By Muhammad Shakeel. Updated 3 November 2026 for the 2026-27 school year. District plans change; check the district's own page.
Snow in Boston
Boston averages 49.2 inches of snow a year (1991-2020 normal, NWS Boston annual climate report). Nor'easters, strong low pressure systems along the coast, are known for heavy snow, and their wind gusts can exceed hurricane force (National Weather Service glossary).
How Boston schools announce closures
Boston Public Schools closes for cold as well as snow: it closed on February 3, 2023 for dangerously cold weather, citing students who walk to school or wait outdoors for public transportation (The Boston Globe). Because Massachusetts does not count remote learning on snow days (The Boston Globe, Feb 2026), closures are made up later in the year. Check Boston Public Schools for announcements.
Reading the estimate in Boston
Level 3 of 4: Snow every winter
For a suburban public school in Massachusetts, any one of these gives the model about an even chance of a closure on its own:
- 5 in of snow from 6 pm to 8 am (snow between 4 and 8 am counts extra)
- 0.1 in of ice from freezing rain, from the evening before to the end of the school day
- a wind chill of -20°F between midnight and 8 am
Places whose forecast grid point is above 1,800 m (about 5,900 ft) move up one level. These are model assumptions, not district rules. How the snow levels work.
Massachusetts uses one model level, so Boston gets the same thresholds as the Berkshires. If you choose "Public school, city", the model lowers the estimate a little, assuming shorter routes.
Questions and answers
How much snow does Boston get?
About 49.2 inches in a normal year, based on 1991-2020 (NWS Boston).
Can Boston Public Schools switch to remote learning on a snow day?
No. Massachusetts does not count remote learning toward the 180 days and does not allow it on snow days (The Boston Globe, Feb 2026).
Is the Boston snow day estimate an official closure notice?
No. It is an estimate from the National Weather Service forecast. Only the school district can close schools, so check its announcement before changing your plans. How accurate the estimate is.
More about snow days in Massachusetts. For what closes schools anywhere, read how much snow it takes and how cold it has to be.