Question 1

How many inches of snow cancel school in Columbus?

Accepted Answer

School closures in Columbus depend on multiple factors including accumulation rate, timing, ice risk, and the district's historical tolerance. Our SnowSense™ engine weighs all of these — not just total inches — to predict closures. Generally, 4-6 inches triggers closures in most Northeast cities, while 1-2 inches can shut down Southern cities.

Question 2

How accurate is the Snow Day Calculator?

Accepted Answer

Our prediction engine maintains an 85%+ accuracy rate during active winter storm seasons. We achieve this by analyzing multiple forecast models alongside historical school closure data and regional temperature tolerances.

Question 3

How often do you update the predictions?

Accepted Answer

Weather data is re-fetched and cached at the edge every 30 minutes. The prediction is computed server-side on every page load using the latest cached data, ensuring you always get current results without API overload.

Question 4

Why does a 2-inch forecast give different probabilities in different cities?

Accepted Answer

Regional infrastructure plays a massive role. A city like Boston is equipped to handle 6 inches of snow with minimal disruption, whereas 2 inches in Atlanta could paralyze the road network due to a lack of plows and salt trucks.

Question 5

What is the SnowSense™ Calibration Layer?

Accepted Answer

The Calibration Layer lets you tune the prediction model with two signals: (1) Snow days already used this year — districts that have used most of their snow days tend to be more conservative, and (2) School type — private schools typically close more easily than public schools due to smaller bus fleets and parent-driven decisions.

Question 6

Why are snow days announced at night?

Accepted Answer

Superintendents typically make closure decisions between 4-6 AM based on overnight accumulation and morning road conditions. In Columbus, this decision often involves coordination with city plowing operations and weather service updates.

Question 7

Does this work for delayed openings?

Accepted Answer

While our core probability focuses on full closures, a high 'Timing' score (snow falling between 4 AM and 8 AM) combined with a moderate overall probability often strongly indicates a 2-hour delay.

Question 8

Can I share my prediction with friends?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Every prediction is encoded in the URL. When you share a link, anyone who opens it sees the exact same prediction with the same calibration settings. No account needed, no sign-up required.

How SnowSense™ Works

Multi-Source Weather Data

SnowSense™ Algorithm

Regional Calibration

Edge Computing

Privacy-First Design

Accuracy Guarantee

Snow Day Predictions by City

Northeast

Midwest

Mountain & West

Southeast

Frequently Asked Questions

Columbus, OH Snow Day Calculator