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Winter hasn’t even officially begun, and there’s a high probability that Des Moines and central Iowa will see temperatures dip below zero for several days during the first week of December.
The low for Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Des Moines is expected to be 12 degrees below zero, with wind gusts up to 18 mph, which could increase wind chill, according to the National Weather Service.
Thursday, Dec. 4, is projected to be the coldest day of the week, with highs of 16 degrees and a wind chill of 10 degrees below zero. Low temperatures in Iowa are expected to be the coldest in the country.
Given all of that, when is it too cold for schools to cancel classes? While many school districts don’t have a concrete answer to this question, others have more definitive answers.
Here’s what we know about the policies that school districts in the metro use when canceling or delaying classes, so you can plan when the forecast calls for freezing temperatures.
When is it too cold for classes in the Ames Community School District?
Ames does not have a set temperature it uses to determine when it’s safe to hold classes.
“We continually monitor the forecast from the NWS to make the best decision for students, staff, and families in a timely manner,” according to the page on weather delays and cancellations from the district’s website.
The page also states how the Ames Community School District superintendent “consults with a variety of experts both inside and outside of the district” before deciding to cancel or delay school due to extreme weather.
When is it too cold for classes in the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District?
Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District decides to cancel or delay school when the wind chill in the area reaches 30 degrees below zero, district spokesperson AJ Ellingson previously told the Register.
“We use the NWS as our ‘source of truth’ when it comes to temperature readings,” Ellingson wrote.
When is it too cold for classes for Des Moines Public Schools?
Des Moines relies on guidance from experts instead of a set temperature.
“There is no set temperature cutoff” when deciding whether to cancel or delay Des Moines Public Schools due to cold weather, said DMPS Communications and Public Relations Specialist Amanda Lewis.
“We rely on guidance from the NWS in Des Moines and the expertise of the district’s operations team — who have managed many tough Iowa winters — when making this important decision,” Lewis wrote in an email to the Register in February 2025.
Lewis also said DMPS takes several factors into account when deciding to delay or cancel school due to extremely cold temperatures, including air temperature, wind chill and the timing of both.
When is it too cold for classes in the Johnston Community School District?
Johnston Community School District may cancel classes if the NWS predicts air temperatures of 25 degrees below zero or if the forecast wind chill is 40 degrees below zero at 6 a.m. the day of school, according to the district’s website on inclement weather procedures.
“The decision to start school late or cancel classes before the start of a school day will be made, when all possible, before 6 a.m.,” according to the district’s website.
When is it too cold for classes in the Southeast Polk Community School District?
Southeast Polk does not have a set temperature either.
“The Superintendent or his designee will make decisions on closing or delaying school based on information provided by the NWS, the Department of Transportation, city and county officials, local law enforcement, meteorologists, and school staff personal inspection,” according to the district’s website on school cancellations and delays.
The superintendent’s decision is normally made no later than 5:30 a.m. to delay or cancel school. The decision to cancel school following a decision to delay will usually be made by 6:30 a.m. and no later than 7:00 a.m., according to the district’s website.
When is it too cold for classes in the Urbandale Community School District?
Urbandale cancels schools when the NWS predicts the temperature to drop to 25 degrees below zero or the wind chill is 30 degrees below zero, according to the district’s website.
“Our goal is to inform families and staff of school delays or cancellations by 5:45 a.m. for morning situations and by 11:00 a.m. for afternoon situations,” according to the district’s website.
When is it too cold for classes in the Waukee Community School District?
Waukee’s superintendent will close or delay school based on predictions and timing of real and “feels like” temperatures and the duration of a weather advisory, according to the district’s website.
The website says the superintendent will base their decision on weather forecasts and feedback from city and county crews and other sources of relevant information.
The superintendent usually decides by 5:30 a.m. to delay the beginning of the school day or to cancel school, according to the district’s website. The decision to cancel school following a decision to delay is usually made by 6:30 a.m. and no later than 7:00 a.m.
When is it too cold for classes in the West Des Moines Community School District?
West Des Moines Community School District decides to cancel or delay school when the wind chill in the area reaches 30 degrees below zero, according to district spokesperson Bryan Geelan.
A decision to delay or cancel school is normally made by 5:45 a.m., according to the WDMCS website.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
