The snow day is arguably one of the most celebrated and decorated “holidays” of the American school year. To this day, snow days still feel like Christmas miracles. But how do snow days come around?
To close schools in the state of Wisconsin because of snow, local superintendents congregate with the National Weather Service to determine if issuing a snow day is a feasible option.
“Safety is the top priority. This includes if the roads are unsafe for our students and families to travel, can our buses travel safely to transport our students, or does the temperature create unsafe conditions for our students to be outside for any duration,” Arrowhead High School Principal, Adam Kurth, said. “There are other factors, but those are the three main factors.”
“In the end, we live in Wisconsin, so we will annually be faced with difficult weather. The decision is always about the safety of our students,” said Kurth.
So what specifically causes Arrowhead to call a snow day?
Water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean impact the amount and frequency of precipitation in the United States. These fluctuations between warmer and cooler water temperatures are called “El Niño” for the warmer waters and “La Niña” for the cooler waters.
Currently in the Pacific Ocean, a moderately strong La Niña is in place for the 2024-2025 winter season. This would indicate that Wisconsin is expected to receive increased amounts of precipitation, mostly in the form of snow.
Ultimately, the real purpose of a snow day is to keep the student body safe from natural factors like the freezing cold and dangerous driving conditions.
While there is no guarantee that we’ll have a snow day this winter, the chances are definitely not zero. With the right conditions, a major snowstorm, extreme coldsnap, or any other environmental factor could happen anytime during this winter season.
