McDowell County Schools snow day calculator
Will McDowell County Schools close tomorrow?
District facts
- Official name
- McDowell County Schools
- Schools
- 10
- Grades
- pre-K to grade 12
- Office
- Welch, WV
- Official site
- boe.mcdo.k12.wv.us
- Snow a year
- 20 in. · 2.2 days with 3+ in.
- NCES ID
- 5400810
National Center for Education Statistics (CCD 2024–25, EDGE GRF25); NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Not affiliated with the district.
Past winter days
We record what happened on each storm day (our chance, and whether McDowell County Schools closed, delayed or opened) from parent reports. The first days appear here this winter. Report today's decision.
What it takes to close McDowell County Schools
- Snow line
- About 5.5 in. of overnight snow
- Ice line
- About .16 in. of ice
- Cold line
- −20°F wind chill at bus time (normal winter low 26°F)
- Counties
- McDowell County, Wyoming County, Tazewell County, Buchanan County
Levels where a closure becomes likely in our model for ZIP 24801, from McDowell County Schools's local snow normal: 2.2 days a year with 3 or more inches. Snow varies across the district: its ZIP codes average from 16 to 40 inches a year, so the line is higher in the snowier parts. These are model estimates, not the district's policy.
Nearby districts
| District | Snow a year | Snow line |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming County Schools | 20 in. | 5.5 in. |
| Tazewell County Public Schools VA | 18 in. | 5.5 in. |
| Mercer County Schools | 24 in. | 5.5 in. |
| Raleigh County Schools | 38 in. | 7 in. |
| Logan County Schools | 15 in. | 5.5 in. |
| Boone County Schools | 17 in. | 5.5 in. |
ZIP codes McDowell County Schools serves
24604, 24622, 24747, 24801, 24808, 24811, 24813, 24815, 24816, 24817, 24826, 24828, 24830, 24831, 24836, 24843, 24844, 24846, 24848, 24850, 24853, 24855, 24861, 24862, 24866, 24868, 24871, 24872, 24873, 24878, 24879, 24881, 24884, 24887, 24888, 24892, 24894, 24895
ZIP codes that overlap the district's boundary (NCES EDGE GRF25). Some are shared with neighboring districts.
Check a different ZIP
Loading tonight's forecast…
Snow by hour
From the National Weather Service forecast, updated hourly. Estimate only. Your district makes the call.
McDowell County Schools snow day questions
Is McDowell County Schools closed tomorrow?
The card above shows tomorrow's chance that McDowell County Schools closes or delays school, from tonight's National Weather Service forecast for the district's area. It is an estimate; only the district can announce a closure, usually on its website, by text or phone alert, and through local TV and radio.
How much snow does it take to close McDowell County Schools?
There is no fixed number: the district weighs snow totals, ice, wind chill, road crews and timing. Our model treats about 6 inches of overnight snow as the level where closures become likely around ZIP 24801, which averages 20 inches of snow a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).
When does McDowell County Schools announce snow days?
Districts usually decide early in the morning, after crews check the roads, and sometimes the evening before when a big storm is certain. Check the district's official website and alerts for the decision; we don't report official closings.
Guides
- How much snow cancels school?
From one inch in Atlanta to a foot in Buffalo: what it takes in every state, with NOAA data.
- What time are snow days announced?
When districts decide, how they tell families, and when to check the calculator.
- How school districts decide snow days
Who makes the call, what they check before dawn, and why neighboring districts disagree.
- Snow day vs. delay vs. early dismissal
What each one means, when districts use them, and how the calculator scores each.