WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Kids waking up across the DMV are waiting to hear those magic words: "snow day."
Whenever bad weather is expected, transportation officials are out at 2:30 a.m. surveying the road conditions and sending information back to schools to make the call.
Each county looks at a variety of factors in determining whether to cancel class, issue a two hour delay, end early or cancel after-school activities. All schools will cancel if traveling conditions are unsafe.
Arlington:
- Decision to cancel or delay class is made by 5 a.m.
- In a last-minute weather decision, if school is closed, busses will arrive at the stops to let parents know school is closed
- During a two hour delay, the morning bus route schedule is also delayed two hours. Field trips are canceled and breakfast is not served.
- When school dismisses two hours early, the decision is normally announced at 11:30 a.m.
2018 Inclement Weather PSA from AETV Producer on Vimeo.
Alexandria:
- Decision to cancel or delay class is made by 5:30 a.m.
- In determining to cancel school, officials look at conditions in neighboring counties, check the status of the school building and facilities, check with Alexandria's Director of Transportation and are out surveying conditions for busses, streets, school parking lots, bus stops and walkers.
- When school dismisses early, the decision is normally announced at 11:00 a.m.
District of Columbia:
- Decision to cancel or delay class is made by 5:00 a.m.
- In determining to cancel school, officials look at the temperature, wind chill, levels of snow and ice, road conditions, availability of public transportation and how these conditions are forecasted to develop over the course of the day.
- A delay does not count as a snow day and does not need to be made up later in the year.
- Schools will individually decide during a delay whether they will serve breakfast.
- If school is closed early, students will be served lunch before dismissal.
- The Mayor decides whether schools are open, delayed or closed. The decision to cancel any extended day, afterschool activity or athletic event comes from the Chancellor.
Fairfax:
- Decision to cancel or delay is class made by 5 a.m.
- The decision is generally made the night before by looking at a variety of factors, with student safety as the top priority.
Frederick:
- Decision to cancel or delay class is made by 5 a.m.
- Decision for early closing is made by 10 a.m.
- When schools close 2 hours early, lunches are served. When schools are closed three days in a row FCPS will serve free hot meals between 11 a.m.-1 p.m., if buildings are accessible to staff. Here are the sites that offer free lunches on the third consecutive snow day.
- County staff is out surveying county roads by 3:30 a.m. and report back to the Chief Operating Officer on whether buses and walkers can get around safely. They look at weather forecasts, talk with county staff and look at building and parking lot conditions. The Chief Operating Officer calls the superintendent before 5 a.m. with a recommendation to delay or close schools. The superintendent makes the final call.
Loudoun:
- Parents will be notified if school is canceled or delayed by 6 a.m.
- Crews are out on county roads at 2 a.m. checking road conditions and analyzing several weather models.
- The Loudoun County Public Schools superintendent will determine when schools and administrative offices observe a delayed opening, closing or early release in emergency situations, based upon the recommendation from the assistant superintendent for support services.
Montgomery:
- Decision to cancel or delay is class made by 5 a.m
- Decision for early closing is made by 11 a.m.
- MCPS's Department of Transportation sends crews to go out and survey roads at 3:00 a.m. They check roads and sidewalks and consult with neighboring counties. By 4:15 a.m. the Department of Transportation sends a recommendation to the chief operating officer. They must take into the geography of all 500 sq. miles of the county.
- When deciding between a delayed start and a full snow day, MCPS must consider whether two hours will make a difference in weather conditions.
Prince George's:
- Decision to cancel or delay is class made by 5:30 a.m.
- Decision for early closing is made by 10:15 a.m.
- Breakfast and lunch will be provided when there is a 2-hour delay or early closing.
- Remains open as long as roads are safe and passable, while monitoring forecasts and National Weather Service reports.
Prince William:
- Decision to cancel or delay is class made by 5:30 a.m.
- PWCS reviews information from emergency management, meteorologists and state highway administrators about road conditions, and school personnel inspect the roads, sidewalks, parking lots and bus lanes. Because PWCS covers 350 sq. miles, closings may occur when conditions might not seem particularly bad in your area.
