California Snow Day Forecast & School Closings

Snow Days per Year0–20+ (extreme regional variation)
Snow SeasonNovember through April (mountains October–May)

California has one of the widest snowfall contrasts in the United States. Sierra Nevada mountain towns can receive 300–500+ inches annually, while coastal Los Angeles and San Diego have never recorded measurable snowfall. Most major metro areas rarely see snow, but when mountain passes close or rare low-elevation snow occurs, school districts serving millions of students can be affected.

Active Closures & Delays

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

No closures or delays reported in California today.

California Recent Snow Days

Date Closings Delays Other Most Active County
Feb 27, 2026 1 Tipton Elementary
Feb 19, 2026 1 Placer
Feb 18, 2026 1 Placer

Closing data is gathered from public sources and may not reflect every district. Always confirm with your school for official status.

Snow Zones in California

Sierra Nevada 100–500+"/yr

Mammoth Lakes, Truckee, and Lake Tahoe region. Among the snowiest populated areas in the U.S. Mountain districts may close multiple times per winter due to deep snow and pass closures.

Northern Mountains & Shasta Region 20–80"/yr

Mount Shasta and surrounding high terrain. Regular winter snow with occasional major Sierra-style storms.

Central Valley 0–1"/yr

Sacramento and Fresno. Measurable snowfall is rare. Closures are more often related to flooding, fog, or mountain pass impacts than snow.

Coastal & Southern California 0"/yr

San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Snow has never accumulated in modern records at sea level in Southern California. Impacts are generally limited to nearby mountain communities.

Major School Districts in California

Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles County · 430,000 students
Check forecast →
San Diego Unified School District
San Diego County · 95,000 students
Check forecast →
Long Beach Unified School District
Los Angeles County · 66,000 students
Check forecast →
Fresno Unified School District
Fresno County · 69,000 students
Check forecast →
San Francisco Unified School District
San Francisco County · 48,000 students
Check forecast →
San Jose Unified School District
Santa Clara County · 30,000 students
Check forecast →
Sacramento City Unified School District
Sacramento County · 38,000 students
Check forecast →
Oakland Unified School District
Alameda County · 36,000 students
Check forecast →
Riverside Unified School District
Riverside County · 43,000 students
Check forecast →
San Bernardino City Unified School District
San Bernardino County · 52,000 students
Check forecast →

Notable Winter Storms

January 1950 Sierra Storms Extremely heavy Sierra totals
Jan 1950

A series of powerful winter storms brought significant snowfall to the Sierra Nevada, closing highways and isolating mountain communities.

December 1996–January 1997 Flood & Snow Event Major Sierra accumulation
Dec 1996–Jan 1997

Heavy mountain snow followed by warm rain caused widespread flooding in Northern California while closing high-elevation schools and highways.

February 2019 Sierra Storm Series Several feet in high elevations
Feb 2019

Repeated storms buried Sierra communities, leading to prolonged closures in mountain districts.

January–March 2023 Atmospheric River Series Historic Sierra snowpack
Winter 2023

Multiple atmospheric river systems produced one of the deepest Sierra snowpacks on record, with extended mountain closures and infrastructure impacts.

Snow Day FAQ

How many snow days does California get per year?

Sierra Nevada communities may close several times each winter. Most major metro areas, including Los Angeles and San Diego, go decades without a snow closure.

Will school be closed tomorrow in California?

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 California?

Mountain districts close for heavy snowfall or highway pass closures. Lowland districts would close for even minor accumulation due to lack of snow removal infrastructure.

Does California use virtual snow days?

California districts may use remote learning during severe weather, particularly in mountain regions.

Which part of California gets the most snow?

The Sierra Nevada. Mammoth Lakes averages well over 300 inches annually, and high-elevation locations often exceed 500 inches in strong winters.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.