Snow Weather School Closings (US News): A powerful early-season winter storm slammed into the central and eastern United States overnight, dumping several inches of snow and forcing hundreds of school districts to cancel classes Tuesday morning.
From Ohio and Kentucky through Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and the Washington D.C. metro area, superintendents made the call for full closures or delayed openings as road crews struggled to keep pace with steady snowfall and plunging temperatures.
In Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, districts including Cincinnati Public Schools, Boone County Schools, Covington Independent, and Newport Independent all announced full closures by 5:30 a.m. Hamilton County remained under a Level 2 snow emergency, meaning only essential travel was advised.
Akron Public Schools and most districts across Summit, Medina, and Portage counties in northeast Ohio also shut down for the day after four to six inches of snow fell overnight. Similar scenes played out in the Pittsburgh region, where Pittsburgh Public Schools reversed an earlier two-hour delay and closed completely as snow intensified during the pre-dawn hours.
Central New York felt the brunt of lake-effect bands, with Syracuse City School District, Ithaca City Schools, and dozens of surrounding districts calling off classes. The National Weather Service reported four to seven inches in the hardest-hit areas, with isolated higher amounts possible through the afternoon.
Closer to the coast, a wintry mix complicated the morning commute across Maryland, northern Virginia, and the nations capital. While many D.C.-area districts opted for two-hour delays to allow extra clearing time, others shifted to virtual learning or closed outright because of icy secondary roads.
The storm caught many communities off guard after an unusually mild November, leaving some roads untreated when the snow began late Monday evening. Transportation departments across the region deployed full fleets of plows and salt trucks, but officials urged drivers to stay home if possible and allow extra time if travel was necessary.
Meteorologists say the system will gradually taper off from west to east through the day, but gusty winds and scattered lake-effect flurries will keep conditions hazardous into Tuesday evening. Another shot of arctic air is expected to follow later in the week, setting the stage for potentially more widespread snow weather school closings before the weekend.
Parents are encouraged to monitor their districts website, app, or local news stations for the latest updates, as conditions can change rapidly during active winter weather.
