School Weather Closure Factors: Snow, Heat, Wind, Flooding, and Severe Storms
Why schools close, delay, or dismiss early for weather, including buses, sidewalks, wind chill, heat, flooding, power outages, and warning timing.
Transportation risk
Buses are central to school weather decisions. Road ice, low visibility, flooding, high wind, and severe storm timing can make routes unsafe even if the school building is fine.
Rural routes, bridges, hills, and untreated roads can drive decisions.
Building and staffing
Power outages, heating or cooling problems, damaged roofs, and staff travel can all affect whether school can operate safely.
Heat can be just as important as winter weather if buildings lack reliable cooling.
Timing matters
A storm during dismissal can be more dangerous than one overnight because buses and parents may be on the road.
Early dismissal has to happen early enough to avoid sending students into the worst conditions.