Mayor Aftab Pureval announces snow operations video
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and other city officials speak to the media to announce new operations and plans to handle snow in the winter months.
The region is seeing a snowy start to December, with a winter weather advisory in effect starting at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and snow totals in the 2-4 inch range anticipated, per the National Weather Service.
The snow is expected to move through overnight, ending between 6 and 10 a.m. Dec. 2.
And with the early morning frigid weather and snowflake swirls comes the age-old question on the minds of teachers, parents and students alike: “Will we have a snow day?”
The short answer is ‘maybe.’
How cold does it have to be to cancel school?
Districts in Greater Cincinnati don’t follow a standard policy when it comes to closing schools for snow or cold temperatures. Regulations for other weather-related circumstances, like when and how districts will make up calamity days, or days when school is canceled due to weather, and what responsibilities the superintendent has to develop a virtual learning model, are outlined in unique policies voted on by each district’s board of education.
However, if the National Weather Service issues an extreme cold warning, formerly called a wind chill warning, there’s a good chance school districts will start discussing the possibility of cancellations or delays.
That level of warning is issued when dangerously cold air and temperatures dipping to minus 20 degrees are expected, per the National Weather Service. In those conditions, there is danger of hypothermia or frostbite.
In past years, Mason City Schools officials said it will close on days when the temperature or wind chill factor dips below minus 20 to minus 25 degrees, The concept is nothing new or unusual for area districts. The Enquirer reported in 2021. Talawanda School District, Campbell County Public Schools and Covington Independent Public Schools had similar policies.
Cincinnati Public Schools may also close for snow or extreme cold temperatures, per its website.
Forest Hills Superintendent Larry Hook wrote a message to families on Nov. 7 laying out the district’s 2025-26 inclement weather plans. While Hook did not specify which conditions would elicit a school cancellation or delay, he said employees “personally drive district roads, confer with municipal road crews district-wide and consider local meteorology reports” when making those decisions.
The Lakota School District has a similar policy. By 4 a.m. or 5 a.m., the district’s chief operating officer and other staff members will drive through the district to assess the conditions of main roads, subdivision streets, school parking lots and sidewalks while communicating with local law enforcement officials and township road crews.
That timeline is also followed by West Clermont School District, where Superintendent David Fultz said he consults with local weather experts, local government and safety officials and surrounding school superintendents to make a delay or closing decision by 5 a.m.
Mason City Schools says it will close when the temperature reaches between minus 20 to minus 25 degrees and announcements will be made by 5:30 a.m.
However, for many districts, there is no specific temperature that will automatically lead to a school closure.
Weather policies for the University of Cincinnati, Xavier and other Greater Cincinnati colleges and universities
The University of Cincinnati may declare an emergency closing or delay if “inclement weather” threatens the safety of the students, faculty, staff and other community members. That decision will be communicated to students by 5:30 a.m. that day, its website states.
UC’s director of public safety may cancel classes under several circumstances, including weather that makes students walking to the campus or between buildings on campus hazardous. These conditions are normally signified by the National Weather Service declaring an extreme cold warning (approximately minus 25-degree conditions) for an extended period of time during the university’s normal operating hours.
The university advises that students consult with their course instructors on how the closure will affect assignments and deadlines and whether the class will proceed virtually.
Xavier University does not specify under what conditions it would consider a delay or cancellation, but it does outline the different definitions of university cancellation vs. delayed start vs. remote day. Miami University has similar information posted, listing three designations for campus closures including “open,” “open with on-campus classes canceled” and “closed.”
Extreme winter weather will not affect operations at Northern Kentucky University unless one or more of the following conditions occur: campus facilities are damaged and determined unsafe; essential utilities, such as heat and electrical service, are lost; and extremely hazardous travel conditions are present. A decision to close the university will be made by 6 a.m. for morning and afternoon classes and 3 p.m. for evening courses.
At Thomas More University, the philosophy is that classes will be held “except under extreme adverse conditions.” If necessary, a decision to close the campus will be made by 5 a.m. for morning and afternoon classes and 3 p.m. for evening courses. Cancellations do not apply to online courses.
Trending News Reporter Haadiza Ogwude contributed to this report.
