How do schools decide if it will be a snow day?

When an overnight snowstorm hits, students, parents, and teachers often wake up asking the age-old question: Will it be a snow day?

I spoke with Lindsey Bunin from the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) to see what goes into making the final call.

“In Halifax, information gathering begins at 4:30 a.m. on a would-be snow day. HRCE staff speak to a meteorologist at a private weather agency on an early morning provincial call.”

She says they also consult with Environment Canada and The Weather Network.

Contacts at the municipal and provincial government help assess the roads, and whether or not they are safe to travel on.

A recommendation is provided to the regional executive director by 5:30 a.m., a final decision is made, and emails to families start going out at 6 a.m.

There is no specific threshold for snow amounts, and it can vary depending on the impact of the weather system.

“It really has a lot to do with the conditions of roads and sidewalks and our ability to have the snow clear from properties, parking lots … in order to ensure that schools can operate safely,” Bunin says.

There is also no limit to the number of snow days that can occur in a school year.

“Of course, snow days are always expected in our climate but there isn’t a set number of days, we just roll with it.”

HRCE typically sees 2-6 full-day snow-related school closures in a given academic year.

Weather-related power outages can also close schools, as well as building damage, like a leaky roof that occurs during a rain storm.

Header image: File photos/Canva Pro/Cheryl Santa Maria.

Image Credits and Reference: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/schools-decide-snow-day-205653672.html