College Snow Day Calculator
Will classes be canceled tomorrow?
Enter your campus ZIP code. The chance uses tonight's National Weather Service forecast, adjusted for a college: colleges cancel classes less often than K–12 schools for the same storm.
Loading tonight's forecast…
Snow by hour
From the National Weather Service forecast, updated hourly. Estimate only. Your district makes the call.
Why colleges close less often
- No school buses. Bus routes on untreated back roads are the main reason K–12 districts close. Colleges don't run them.
- Students live close by. Many walk to class from residence halls or nearby housing; commuters can often stay home or join online.
- Classes can move online. Many colleges switch to remote classes for a storm day instead of canceling.
- Campuses clear their own roads and paths, often starting overnight.
They still close for the big ones: heavy snow at the start of the day, ice storms, blizzards and dangerous cold. A late start (classes from 10 AM or noon) is common when roads need a few more hours.
College vs. K–12 chance
For the same forecast, our model's college chance is lower than the K–12 chance:
| K–12 school | College |
|---|---|
| 30% chance of closure | 16% |
| 50% chance of closure | 31% |
| 60% chance of closure | 40% |
| 70% chance of closure | 51% |
| 80% chance of closure | 64% |
| 90% chance of closure | 80% |
The college adjustment is a rough setting, not yet measured against real college closures. How adjustments work. For a K–12 district, use the snow day calculator.
College snow day questions
Do colleges have snow days?
Yes, but far fewer than K–12 schools. Many students live on or near campus, there are no school buses, and classes can often move online for a day. Colleges usually close for the worst storms, ice or extreme cold, or delay the start of classes.
How does the college snow day calculator work?
It reads the same National Weather Service forecast as our K–12 calculator for the ZIP code you enter, then applies a college adjustment, because colleges close less often for the same storm. The result is labeled "Adjusted for college" so you can see that it isn't the K–12 number.
Will my college have a snow day tomorrow?
Enter your campus ZIP code above for an estimate. Your college announces closures itself, usually through its emergency alert system, email and website, so check those for the decision.