School Delay Calculator
Not every storm closes school — many just delay it. Check your delay risk now.
Delay vs. closure: how districts decide
A 2-hour delay is the middle ground districts choose when conditions are bad at 6 AM but expected to improve — for example, when plows need one more pass, or temperatures rise above freezing by 9 AM. Delays are far more common than full closures: many districts issue several delays for every closure.
How we score delay risk
Every result includes a separate delay risk score. It runs lower than closure risk by design: light snow (2–5 cm), marginal temperatures, and morning-only hazards push delay risk up without pushing closure risk. If delay risk is high while closure risk is low, expect a late start rather than a day off.
What a 2-hour delay means for your morning
- Buses run 2 hours late — the pickup time shifts, the route doesn't.
- Morning kindergarten and early programs are often cancelled.
- Breakfast may not be served — plan accordingly.
- After-school activities usually run as normal unless the district says otherwise.
- Delays can become closures: if conditions don't improve, districts upgrade the call by ~7 AM.
When delays turn into closures
Watch the storm risk and travel risk scores alongside delay risk. When all three climb together, the district is likely weighing a full closure. Our school closing predictor explains the full decision picture.