Alaska Snow Day Forecast & School Closings

Snow Days per Year5–20+ (varies widely by region)
Snow SeasonOctober through May (September–June in Arctic)

Alaska has the longest and most intense winter season in the United States. Snowfall varies dramatically by region — from 40–70 inches in the Interior to well over 100 inches in parts of the coastal mountains. School closures are often triggered not only by heavy snow, but by extreme cold, blowing snow, and limited daylight. Urban districts like Anchorage see several weather-related closures most winters, while rural districts may close for transportation and safety concerns.

Active Closures & Delays

Sources update throughout the morning. Always confirm with your school district for the latest information.

No closures or delays reported in Alaska today.

Snow Zones in Alaska

Interior Alaska 50–80"/yr

Fairbanks and surrounding Interior. Long, extremely cold winters with moderate snowfall. Closures often triggered by extreme cold rather than snow totals.

Southcentral Alaska 60–100"/yr

Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. Significant snowfall most winters. Urban districts may close several times per season for heavy snow or ice.

Western Alaska & Bering Sea Coast 40–70"/yr

Nome and Bethel. Blowing snow and coastal storms frequently impact travel and school operations.

Southeast Alaska (Panhandle) 40–120"/yr

Juneau, Sitka. Maritime climate with heavy wet snow in some winters. Mountain terrain increases disruption risk.

Major School Districts in Alaska

Anchorage School District
45,000 students
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Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
16,000 students
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Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
14,000 students
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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
9,000 students
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Juneau School District
5,000 students
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Notable Winter Storms

March 2002 Anchorage Blizzard Over 2 feet in parts of Anchorage
Mar 2002

One of the most significant late-season snow events in Anchorage history, causing extended school closures and transportation shutdowns.

Winter 2011–2012 Interior Cold Wave Prolonged snow and extreme cold
Dec 2011–Jan 2012

Interior Alaska experienced extended periods below -40°F, with school closures driven primarily by dangerous cold and blowing snow.

February 2019 Southcentral Snow Multiple feet in high terrain
Feb 2019

Heavy snow impacted Anchorage and surrounding communities, producing multi-day school closures.

Snow Day FAQ

How many snow days does Alaska get per year?

Urban districts like Anchorage typically see several weather-related closures most winters. Interior and rural districts may close for extreme cold or blowing snow.

Will school be closed tomorrow in Alaska?

It depends on the forecast, storm timing, and local road conditions. Enter your ZIP code above to see the latest closure and delay probabilities for your area. Predictions update automatically as National Weather Service forecasts change.

What triggers a snow day in Alaska?

Heavy snowfall, blowing snow, or extreme cold below -40°F. Transportation access and visibility are major factors.

Does Alaska use virtual snow days?

Some districts use remote learning during severe weather, though rural connectivity challenges can limit effectiveness.

Which part of Alaska gets the most snow?

Coastal mountains and parts of Southcentral and Southeast Alaska can exceed 100 inches annually, with some high elevations receiving far more.

Snow Day Forecasts by State

Check snow day probabilities for your area. We track school closures, weather alerts, snowfall reports, and 7-day forecasts for all 50 states — from lake-effect blizzards in the Midwest to rare southern snow events.

Great Lakes & Midwest

Lake-effect snow drives some of the highest school closure rates in the country. Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin regularly see multi-day storms, while Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois face both lake-effect bands and arctic cold fronts. The region averages more snow days per year than nearly anywhere else in the U.S.

Michigan Minnesota Wisconsin Ohio Indiana Illinois Iowa

Northeast & New England

Nor'easters and coastal storms make the Northeast a snow day hotspot. From Buffalo's lake-effect events to Boston's blizzards and Vermont's mountain snowfall, winter weather closures are a regular part of the school year. Major metros like New York City and Philadelphia see widespread closures when storms hit during commute hours.

New York Pennsylvania Massachusetts Connecticut Maine New Hampshire Vermont New Jersey Rhode Island

Northern Plains & Rockies

Blizzards, high-altitude snowfall, and extreme cold define winter across this region. Mountain passes in Colorado, Utah, and Montana can receive over 200 inches annually, while plains states face wind-driven whiteouts that close schools even with modest accumulations. Wind chill regularly triggers closures across the Dakotas and Nebraska.

Colorado Utah Montana Wyoming Idaho North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas

Appalachia & Mid-Atlantic

Moderate snowfall totals here mask outsized disruption. With lower preparedness and fewer plows, a 3-inch storm in Virginia or North Carolina can close as many schools as a 10-inch storm in the Northeast. Ice storms are especially dangerous across the Appalachian range, often causing multi-day closures.

Virginia West Virginia Maryland Delaware District of Columbia Kentucky Tennessee North Carolina

South & Gulf States

Snow is rare across the Deep South and Gulf Coast, but when it arrives, it's a regional event. Minimal winter infrastructure means even a dusting can trigger widespread school closures. Ice storms pose the biggest winter threat, and states like Texas and Georgia can see citywide shutdowns from storms that would barely register further north.

Texas Georgia Missouri Oklahoma Arkansas South Carolina Alabama Mississippi Louisiana Florida

West Coast & Pacific

Winter weather varies enormously across the West. Alaska sees months of snow and extreme cold, while Pacific Northwest cities face occasional ice storms and wet snow. Mountain areas from the Cascades to the Sierra Nevada measure snowfall in feet. Desert Southwest states rarely see snow at lower elevations.

Washington Oregon California Alaska Nevada New Mexico Arizona Hawaii