Wind chill and school closings
No snow, no ice, and still no school: when wind chill at the bus stop gets dangerous, districts close or delay.
By Petar M., editor · Updated October 17, 2026 · How we research
In this guide (4)
Why cold closes schools
The risk is children waiting outside: at bus stops, on walks to school, at recess. Wind chill (how cold it feels on skin with the wind) is what districts watch, usually at the hour buses run. Cold also strains buses, heating and pipes.
How cold is too cold?
There is no national rule. Districts used to severe winters tolerate far colder mornings than districts that rarely see them. The calculator sets a local cold line from the normal December–February low temperature (NOAA 1991–2020) and compares it with the forecast wind chill between 5 and 8 AM:
| City | Normal winter low | Closures likely near |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 4°F | −40°F |
| Minneapolis, MN | 12°F | −33°F |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 12°F | −33°F |
| Madison, WI | 13°F | −32°F |
| Des Moines, IA | 17°F | −28°F |
| Chicago, IL | 23°F | −22°F |
| Detroit, MI | 20°F | −25°F |
| Buffalo, NY | 21°F | −24°F |
| Denver, CO | 18°F | −27°F |
| Boston, MA | 26°F | −20°F |
| New York, NY | 30°F | −20°F |
Our model's cold line (normal winter low minus 45°F, between −40°F and −20°F). Delays start about 5°F warmer. Not a district policy: check yours.
For tomorrow's cold-closure chance in your ZIP code, use the cold day calculator.
The NWS cold alerts
The National Weather Service now issues Extreme Cold Warnings, Extreme Cold Watches and Cold Weather Advisories. The older Wind Chill Warning and Wind Chill Advisory are no longer on the NWS's list of alert types (checked October 18, 2026). When one is active for your county, the calculator raises the chance of a closure or delay.
Frostbite at the bus stop
The NWS wind chill chart shows how quickly exposed skin can freeze: the colder the wind chill, the faster. At very low wind chills frostbite can set in within half an hour or less. Hats, gloves and covered faces matter on mornings like these, whatever the district decides.
Check your district
See tomorrow's chance of a closure or delay for your ZIP code. Open the calculator, or find your state or city.
Sources
- National Weather Service, wind chill chart
- National Weather Service, winter weather warnings and advisories
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020