Snow Day Leaderboard: U.S. Cities Most Likely to Close Schools

Ranked by highest single-day school closure probability in the next 7 days. Updated daily using NWS forecasts, snow/ice risk, and local snow readiness.

Last updated: Mar 31, 2026, 12:02 PM ET (Updated 3x daily)

Ranked by overall school disruption risk (closures + delays) in the next 7 days.

RankCityClosure RiskDelay RiskMost Likely DayConditionsTrend
#1Duluth, MNZIP 5580252%37%Thursday · Apr 233° / 26°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay37° / 27°Partly Sunny
WednesdayApr 11%2% delay32° / 27°Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
ThursdayApr 252%37% delay33° / 26°Snow
FridayApr 327%48% delay37° / 29°Chance Light Snow
MondayApr 63%2% delay42° / 27°Chance Light Snow

Avg snowfall: 56.2 in/yr · Readiness: 0.79

#2Bismarck, NDZIP 5850147%32%Friday · Apr 335° / 23°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay39° / 25°Sunny
WednesdayApr 12%5% delay38° / 28°Light Snow Likely
ThursdayApr 211%21% delay39° / 27°Light Snow Likely
FridayApr 347%32% delay35° / 23°Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay41° / 22°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 51.2 in/yr · Readiness: 0.71

#3Green Bay, WIZIP 5430118%44%Thursday · Apr 244° / 36°Ice Risk▲ +1
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay47° / 29°Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay39° / 31°Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Snow
ThursdayApr 218%44% delay44° / 36°Freezing Rain then Rain And Snow
FridayApr 33%6% delay49° / 35°Slight Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny
MondayApr 60%0% delay46° / 31°Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain

Avg snowfall: 51.4 in/yr · Readiness: 0.71

#4Billings, MTZIP 5910121%38%Friday · Apr 340° / 26°Snow Possible▼ 1
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay41° / 29°Light Snow Likely
WednesdayApr 10%0% delay52° / 34°Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
ThursdayApr 20%0% delay58° / 32°Showers And Thunderstorms
FridayApr 321%38% delay40° / 26°Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay60° / 35°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 55.0 in/yr · Readiness: 0.77

#5Grand Forks, NDZIP 5820118%39%Thursday · Apr 236° / 29°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay34° / 24°Partly Sunny
WednesdayApr 10%0% delay40° / 30°Mostly Cloudy
ThursdayApr 218%39% delay36° / 29°Light Snow Likely
FridayApr 316%35% delay35° / 29°Chance Light Snow
MondayApr 61%0% delay36° / 22°Slight Chance Rain And Snow

Avg snowfall: 42.8 in/yr · Readiness: 0.56

#6Sioux Falls, SDZIP 5710417%32%Thursday · Apr 241° / 29°Ice RiskNEW
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay55° / 32°Mostly Sunny
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay40° / 32°Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Sleet
ThursdayApr 217%32% delay41° / 29°Rain And Snow
FridayApr 35%8% delay43° / 30°Freezing Rain Likely
MondayApr 60%0% delay54° / 28°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 44.5 in/yr · Readiness: 0.59

#7St. Paul, MNZIP 5510114%32%Thursday · Apr 240° / 29°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay52° / 32°Mostly Cloudy
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay43° / 32°Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Snow
ThursdayApr 214%32% delay40° / 29°Rain And Snow Showers
FridayApr 34%8% delay45° / 35°Slight Chance Snow Showers then Chance Rain Showers
MondayApr 60%0% delay49° / 32°Slight Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Avg snowfall: 50.6 in/yr · Readiness: 0.70

#8Fargo, NDZIP 5810215%30%Thursday · Apr 236° / 28°Snow Possible▼ 2
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay39° / 25°Partly Sunny
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay40° / 30°Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Snow
ThursdayApr 215%30% delay36° / 28°Light Snow Likely
FridayApr 313%23% delay36° / 30°Chance Light Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay39° / 24°Slight Chance Rain And Snow

Avg snowfall: 57.9 in/yr · Readiness: 0.81

#9Minneapolis, MNZIP 5540113%30%Thursday · Apr 239° / 29°Snow Possible▼ 1
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay52° / 31°Partly Sunny
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay43° / 32°Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain And Snow
ThursdayApr 213%30% delay39° / 29°Rain And Snow Showers
FridayApr 34%9% delay44° / 35°Slight Chance Snow Showers then Chance Rain And Snow Showers
MondayApr 60%0% delay49° / 32°Slight Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Avg snowfall: 52.4 in/yr · Readiness: 0.73

#10Rapid City, SDZIP 5770112%24%Friday · Apr 343° / 26°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%1% delay43° / 28°Slight Chance Light Snow
WednesdayApr 13%0% delay42° / 30°Light Snow
ThursdayApr 20%0% delay53° / 30°Chance Rain And Snow
FridayApr 312%24% delay43° / 26°Light Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay54° / 31°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 49.3 in/yr · Readiness: 0.68

#11Great Falls, MTZIP 5940112%20%Friday · Apr 345° / 26°NWS Alert▼ 2
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay44° / 27°Mostly Sunny then Chance Light Snow
WednesdayApr 10%0% delay58° / 36°Mostly Sunny
ThursdayApr 21%2% delay44° / 29°Rain
FridayApr 312%20% delay45° / 26°Chance Light Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay58° / 35°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 63.5 in/yr · Readiness: 0.87

#12Bangor, MEZIP 044016%10%Wednesday · Apr 144° / 24°NWS Alert▼ 1
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 315%15% delay40° / 32°Sleet Likely
WednesdayApr 16%10% delay44° / 24°Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Sleet
ThursdayApr 20%0% delay39° / 30°Slight Chance Sleet then Chance Light Snow
FridayApr 30%0% delay48° / 37°Light Snow Likely then Light Rain Likely
MondayApr 60%0% delay49° / 27°Chance Light Rain

Avg snowfall: 66.1 in/yr · Readiness: 0.89

#1Duluth, MN
52%Closure37%Delay
Most likely: Thursday (Apr 2) 33° / 26°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay37° / 27°Partly Sunny
WednesdayApr 11%2% delay32° / 27°Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
ThursdayApr 252%37% delay33° / 26°Snow
FridayApr 327%48% delay37° / 29°Chance Light Snow
MondayApr 63%2% delay42° / 27°Chance Light Snow

Avg snowfall: 56.2 in/yr · Readiness: 0.79

#2Bismarck, ND
47%Closure32%Delay
Most likely: Friday (Apr 3) 35° / 23°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay39° / 25°Sunny
WednesdayApr 12%5% delay38° / 28°Light Snow Likely
ThursdayApr 211%21% delay39° / 27°Light Snow Likely
FridayApr 347%32% delay35° / 23°Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay41° / 22°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 51.2 in/yr · Readiness: 0.71

#3Green Bay, WI▲ +1
18%Closure44%Delay
Most likely: Thursday (Apr 2) 44° / 36°Ice Risk
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay47° / 29°Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay39° / 31°Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Snow
ThursdayApr 218%44% delay44° / 36°Freezing Rain then Rain And Snow
FridayApr 33%6% delay49° / 35°Slight Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny
MondayApr 60%0% delay46° / 31°Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain

Avg snowfall: 51.4 in/yr · Readiness: 0.71

#4Billings, MT▼ 1
21%Closure38%Delay
Most likely: Friday (Apr 3) 40° / 26°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay41° / 29°Light Snow Likely
WednesdayApr 10%0% delay52° / 34°Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
ThursdayApr 20%0% delay58° / 32°Showers And Thunderstorms
FridayApr 321%38% delay40° / 26°Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay60° / 35°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 55.0 in/yr · Readiness: 0.77

#5Grand Forks, ND
18%Closure39%Delay
Most likely: Thursday (Apr 2) 36° / 29°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay34° / 24°Partly Sunny
WednesdayApr 10%0% delay40° / 30°Mostly Cloudy
ThursdayApr 218%39% delay36° / 29°Light Snow Likely
FridayApr 316%35% delay35° / 29°Chance Light Snow
MondayApr 61%0% delay36° / 22°Slight Chance Rain And Snow

Avg snowfall: 42.8 in/yr · Readiness: 0.56

#6Sioux Falls, SDNEW
17%Closure32%Delay
Most likely: Thursday (Apr 2) 41° / 29°Ice Risk
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay55° / 32°Mostly Sunny
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay40° / 32°Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Sleet
ThursdayApr 217%32% delay41° / 29°Rain And Snow
FridayApr 35%8% delay43° / 30°Freezing Rain Likely
MondayApr 60%0% delay54° / 28°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 44.5 in/yr · Readiness: 0.59

#7St. Paul, MN
14%Closure32%Delay
Most likely: Thursday (Apr 2) 40° / 29°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay52° / 32°Mostly Cloudy
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay43° / 32°Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Snow
ThursdayApr 214%32% delay40° / 29°Rain And Snow Showers
FridayApr 34%8% delay45° / 35°Slight Chance Snow Showers then Chance Rain Showers
MondayApr 60%0% delay49° / 32°Slight Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Avg snowfall: 50.6 in/yr · Readiness: 0.70

#8Fargo, ND▼ 2
15%Closure30%Delay
Most likely: Thursday (Apr 2) 36° / 28°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay39° / 25°Partly Sunny
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay40° / 30°Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Snow
ThursdayApr 215%30% delay36° / 28°Light Snow Likely
FridayApr 313%23% delay36° / 30°Chance Light Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay39° / 24°Slight Chance Rain And Snow

Avg snowfall: 57.9 in/yr · Readiness: 0.81

#9Minneapolis, MN▼ 1
13%Closure30%Delay
Most likely: Thursday (Apr 2) 39° / 29°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay52° / 31°Partly Sunny
WednesdayApr 11%1% delay43° / 32°Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain And Snow
ThursdayApr 213%30% delay39° / 29°Rain And Snow Showers
FridayApr 34%9% delay44° / 35°Slight Chance Snow Showers then Chance Rain And Snow Showers
MondayApr 60%0% delay49° / 32°Slight Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Avg snowfall: 52.4 in/yr · Readiness: 0.73

#10Rapid City, SD
12%Closure24%Delay
Most likely: Friday (Apr 3) 43° / 26°Snow Possible
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%1% delay43° / 28°Slight Chance Light Snow
WednesdayApr 13%0% delay42° / 30°Light Snow
ThursdayApr 20%0% delay53° / 30°Chance Rain And Snow
FridayApr 312%24% delay43° / 26°Light Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay54° / 31°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 49.3 in/yr · Readiness: 0.68

#11Great Falls, MT▼ 2
12%Closure20%Delay
Most likely: Friday (Apr 3) 45° / 26°NWS Alert
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 310%0% delay44° / 27°Mostly Sunny then Chance Light Snow
WednesdayApr 10%0% delay58° / 36°Mostly Sunny
ThursdayApr 21%2% delay44° / 29°Rain
FridayApr 312%20% delay45° / 26°Chance Light Snow
MondayApr 60%0% delay58° / 35°Partly Sunny

Avg snowfall: 63.5 in/yr · Readiness: 0.87

#12Bangor, ME▼ 1
6%Closure10%Delay
Most likely: Wednesday (Apr 1) 44° / 24°NWS Alert
7-Day School Forecast
TuesdayMar 315%15% delay40° / 32°Sleet Likely
WednesdayApr 16%10% delay44° / 24°Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Sleet
ThursdayApr 20%0% delay39° / 30°Slight Chance Sleet then Chance Light Snow
FridayApr 30%0% delay48° / 37°Light Snow Likely then Light Rain Likely
MondayApr 60%0% delay49° / 27°Chance Light Rain

Avg snowfall: 66.1 in/yr · Readiness: 0.89

How This Leaderboard Works

Every morning, Snow Day Signal screens hundreds of U.S. cities for school closure risk. The model pulls 7-day forecasts from the National Weather Service, evaluates predicted snowfall and ice accumulation, checks for active winter weather alerts, and factors in each city's local snow readiness — how prepared its infrastructure is for winter weather based on historical snowfall patterns.

Cities are ranked by their highest single-day closure probability over the next 7 school days. The result is a daily snapshot of where in the country schools are most likely to close or delay, updated each morning before the school day begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Snow Day Leaderboard ranked?

Cities are ranked by their highest single-day school closure probability over the next 7 days. The model evaluates NWS forecasts for snowfall, ice accumulation, active winter weather alerts, and each city's local snow readiness based on historical snowfall patterns.

How does Snow Day Signal calculate snow day probability?

Snow Day Signal uses National Weather Service 7-day forecasts, NOAA climate normals, and active weather alerts. The model factors in predicted snowfall and ice amounts, temperature, precipitation probability, local snow preparedness (based on average annual snowfall), and aftermath effects from recent storms.

How often is the leaderboard updated?

The leaderboard is updated daily each morning before the school day begins. It screens hundreds of U.S. cities and surfaces the ones with the highest closure risk.

What does snow readiness mean?

Snow readiness (or preparedness) reflects how equipped a city is to handle winter weather based on its average annual snowfall. Cities that regularly receive heavy snow have more plows, salt reserves, and experience — so they need a bigger storm to close schools. Cities that rarely see snow are more likely to close from even a few inches.