Delays and Closings for Friday, March 6

A few stray bands of mixed precipitation are still passing through mainly northern Berkshire County (as of 5 AM), which means all districts are going with a two-hour delay or a full ice day. (Pittsfield has a professional development day, which is why they are not listed below.) Central Berkshire has upgraded from the two-hour delay to the full ice day. 

[Updated 8:01 AM]

TWO-HOUR DELAY:

Berkshire Arts and Technology

Berkshire Community College (9:30 opening)

Berkshire Country Day

Berkshire Hills

Berkshire Waldorf

Emma Miller

Farmington River

Hancock

Hoosac Valley

Lee

McCann

MCLA (11 AM opening)
Mount Greylock

North Adams

Richmond Consolidated

Southern Berkshire

Southern Vermont SU

ICE DAY:

Central Berkshire

Lenox

Update for Friday's Icy Forecast

The NWS Albany Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect around 5 PM this evening. Our sources are indicating that the forecast is for temperatures over the next 18 hours to be slightly colder than expected, which means we may see a longer period of ice and more snow.

As a result, the forecast models are showing more icing is possible. Snow totals may approach 2" in places. The amount of sleet and freezing rain you get will largely be dependent on your elevation. Higher elevations in the eastern part of the county will see more ice and snow.

NWS Albany. More than enough ice for a delay.

Some areas of Berkshire County will see over 0.25" of ice, which will definitely create hazardous driving conditions. The rain is expected to change over to ice and snow around 11 PM. The only good news (for Superintendents) is that the precipitation is expected to end around 6 AM. So, "to delay or not to delay" will be the tough decision, and full snow days will probably not be part of the decision matrix.

With warmer temperatures lurking around the corner, Superintendents might be thinking that this is winter's last best shot, and rather than deal with another round of unpleasant emails, just go with the delay and be done with it.

We'll run a list of delays early tomorrow should heads of schools chose that option. There's a chance a few schools call in the delay tonight, but we won't hold our breath on that happening. Stay tuned tomorrow AM.

Another Ice Advisory for Friday AM (Mar. 6)

Almost all Berkshire County schools enjoyed a delayed start this morning due to icy conditions. The combination of patchy drizzle and temps right around freezing led to icing, and you know school heads do not like to fool around with ice. That, and the many unpleasant emails they likely received for not going with the early release yesterday.

Yesterday's snow over-performed and dropped 4-6" in Western Mass, which was a few inches higher than expected.

NWS Albany ice forecast for Thursday night and Friday morning.

And despite the long-range forecast showing 60s and possibly 70s by Wednesday, we still have another Winter Weather Advisory to contend with Thursday night and Friday morning. There won't be much snow with this system (1" or so) but the ice forecast is up around 0.25" which is not insignificant. If the ice is still accumulating Friday around 5 AM, delays are definitely going to happen Friday morning.

More info to come tomorrow.

Delays for Wednesday, March 4

Kudos to Southern Berkshire for leading the charge on the early release yesterday. Most schools did not follow their lead but should have. Roads were terrible for the ride home yesterday.

School heads are quickly making amends by calling in delays this morning on advice from road crews and bus companies about freezing drizzle on the roadways. Most schools are operating with a two-hour delay this morning. Here's the list so far [updated 5:55 AM, Wed.]:

TWO-HOUR DELAY:

Berkshire Arts and Technology

Berkshire Hills

Berkshire Waldorf

Central Berkshire

Emma Miller

Farmington River
Hancock

Hoosac Valley

Lee

Lenox

McCann Technical
Mount Greylock

North Adams

Pittsfield

Richmond Consolidated

Southern Berkshire

Early Releases (Tues.) & Delays (Wed.)

The snow should start to fall in Berkshire county around noon, give or take 45 minutes. Snow will stick to the roads right away due to the cold air in place. Gradually, the air will warm up which will lead to sleet and some freezing rain by the early evening. 

Some schools in our area have decided to cancel after school activities (for example, Berkshire Hills, Mount Greylock) and some have decided upon an early release. Also, it's possible we could see a delay or two on Wednesday. Here's the current list [last update: 11:04 AM, Tuesday]:

EARLY RELEASE:

Berkshire Country Day

Hoosick Falls, NY

New Lebanon, NY
Southern Berkshire

Winter Weather Advisory for Tuesday Afternoon & Evening (Mar. 3) [Update]

[Monday 10:00 PM Update: Southern Berkshire has called in the early release for Tuesday.]

There were signs of spring this past weekend, but Old Man Winter has fought back. The thermometer at GSD Headquarters read 3 degrees this morning, and we won't get above freezing until Wednesday.

NWS Albany announced a Winter Weather Advisory for the Berkshires and surrounding areas for Tuesday and Tuesday night. We will see a period of snow change over to sleet and freezing rain. It will be a relative fast-moving storm--12 hours or so in total--so accumulation will be generally light. Most areas will see 1-2" with some higher amounts possible in higher elevation locations.

Ice forecast for Tuesday evening into the early hours of Wednesday.

The ride home from school and work on Tuesday may be slow. But we do not anticipate any early releases. Any games or events may be in jeopardy for Tuesday night. Delays on Wednesday are less likely because the snow/sleet will end several hours before the morning commute.

After the Tuesday snow/sleet, temps are going to shoot into the 40s, 50s and eventually the 60s (one week from now). You know there's one more snow storm lurking out there, but this winter is starting to breathe its last breaths.

Warm-up Then More Snow

We picked up another 2.1 inches yesterday from the morning snow and the late night snow band that ripped through Berkshire County. While no schools went with the 2-hour delay yesterday (Wednesday), the roads were definitely slick and led to many tardy students.

The rest of the week is looking downright spring-like with temps heading into the 40s both Friday and Saturday. We will see a lot of melting on Saturday with some places in Western Mass nearing 50 degrees before a return to temps in the 20s on Sunday.

Our "big snow storm" that was showing up in the models for next week appears to be heading out to sea. There is still a chance for measurable snow on Wednesday, but the models are still sorting out the particulars on that storm. If it does snow Wednesday, we'll be in the 1-3" zone, not the 6-12" zone (despite what the model below shows).

The North American model for Wednesday, March 4.

We're still in an unsettled pattern so forecasts can change, as we saw with the recent nor'easter/blizzard. But your best chance for snow to affect the school day is Wednesday, March 4.

Winter Ain't Done Yet -- More Snow Coming

The big blizzard of '26 generally spared the Berkshires yesterday. The storm ended up tracking more to the east and did not quite produce the snow and wind gusts that were forecasted. Still, driving conditions were pretty rough around the times the busses would have rolled, so all in all the right call by Superintendents. And the Commonwealth was in a state of emergency, as called by Gov. Healey, so that also sealed the deal.

About this time of year is when a few Negative Nicks and Nellies start to root against snow storms. It's fine if you're in that camp, and, yes, school children might be in session until July, but your bad juju is not welcome here. Live the snow day, love the snow day. Always.

So, we have a sneaky little situation developing for Wednesday morning. An Alberta Clipper will be zooming into our region around 4 AM. Even though models are showing only 1-3", the timing of this storm is screaming "two-hour delays."

NWS Albany. More than enough for a delay.

Superintendents probably have "had it up to here" with the snow, but the snow-covered roads for the morning commute might lead a few school leaders to delay the start tomorrow.

Next up is a mid-Atlantic disturbance that could throw an inch or two our way Thursday night. That scenario is less certain but might add to our seasonal snow totals. The school day will not be impacted by that event.

Lastly, the GSD Staff eyebrows are raised for a potential big storm next week (Tuesday/Wednesday). Both the Euro and North American are showing 8-12 inches of snow. By no means is this storm a certainty--yesterday's storm was a very late developer--but the agreement between the models is definitely intriguing. We will definitely be monitoring this situation and look forward to tracking it over the next week.

The Euro's forecast for Tuesday, March 3. Another coastal storm.

Cancellations for Monday, Feb. 23

Some of the short-range models have predicted a slight easterly shift to the center of the storm, which could knock a few inches off our expected snow totals. But this is still a serious snow that will produce 6-12" of snow and 40+ mph winds on Monday.

To no one's surprise, school districts and colleges are calling in the snow day already. It's going to be a clean sweep. Here is our list so far. [Updated 10:00 PM, Sunday]

Snow Days:

Bement School

Berkshire Arts and Technology

Berkshire Community College

Berkshire Country Day

Berkshire Hills

Berkshire Montessori

Berkshire Waldorf

Central Berkshire
Emma Miller

Farmington River

Hancock
Hoosac Valley

Lee

Lenox

MCLA
Mount Greylock

North Adams

Pine Cobble

Pittsfield

Richmond Consolidated

Southern Berkshire

Williams College (admin offices; non-essential personnel; children's center)

The Vacation Extender: Nor'easter of Feb. 22/23

There has been little change to the forecast overnight, which means a big storm will be hitting the Berkshires. 

NWS Boston

Although we won't be in the jackpot zone--those honors go to southeastern New England--we still are expected to see 8-12". By our calculations, that is more than enough to cancel school on Monday.

The three big factors working in our favor: 1) Moderate and high snow totals; 2) Perfect timing; 3) High winds on Monday.

The snow is expected to start between 8 and 11 PM. It will snow first in South County and then gradually push northward. We may see a few flakes and even a light accumulation during the day today, but that is just bonus snow before the coastal storm really starts to intensify later in the day.

Meteorologists are expecting the heaviest snow to fall in the early hours of Monday, with rates of 1-2" per hour possible. It will definitely be snowing in the "golden hour" (4-5 AM) when Superintendents rise and determine the fates of hundreds of students and their families (at least for that day).

As we noted yesterday, we can not underestimate the wind with this storm and how difficult visibility is going to be Monday morning. Sustained 20 mph winds with gusts into the 40s will lead to white out conditions. There aren't too many bus companies that are going to willingly put their drivers out there in white out conditions.

NWS Albany

One factor that might work against some students is a sharp snow cut-off line on the northern edge of the storm. This cut-off line is currently forecasted to be in Vermont, but a slightly more southerly track could bring that cut-off line into Northern Berkshire county. South County schools will still be safe and well below that dreaded line.

At this juncture the GSD Staff is much more optimistic about this storm and its potential to extend public school students' vacations one more day. In fact, we expect several Superintendents to make their decision tonight.

The Staff will be monitoring things all day, and we'll do one more report in the late afternoon. Get the high snow boots out and have the shovels ready!

Major Northeast Storm -- Sunday/Monday, Feb. 22/23

As Ron Burgundy would say, "Boy, that escalated quickly."

As soon as we pressed "publish" on this morning's update on the Winter Storm Watch, NWS Albany came in over the top and upgraded our Watch to a Warning. The impetus for the heightened concern about this storm most likely resulted from the latest run of the NAM, which gives meteorologists more fine-tuned and shorter-range predictions. The NAM showed a more northerly track for the storm and higher precipitation rates.

The current models are now showing 5-12 inches of snow with the lesser amount in the northwest corner of Berkshire County and the greater amount in the southeast corner.

We still think there will be a "market correction" on these snow totals before the first flakes fall tomorrow, but this nor'easter is definitely trending in a more northerly direction.

The Euro AI-supported model. This would be enough for many schools to have full snow days.

As for snow days on Monday, the chances of them are also trending in a more northerly direction. As long as South County gets 6+ inches, there's little chance schools south of Pittsfield will have school. Snow days for schools north of Pittsfield might not quite have the volume of snow to merit full snow days. But the excellent timing of the storm could easily lead to delays.

The big X factor for this storm is going to be the wind. As this nor'easter strengthens just off the mid-Atlantic coast, it is going to intensify and generate strong winds. Coastal areas from Delaware to the north shore of Massachusetts have Blizzard Warnings in place. Here's a reminder on the conditions that need to be met for a Blizzard warning: For a 3+ hour period, snow must reduce visibility to less than a 1/4 mile and sustained winds must be over 35 mph.

Image courtesy of the Boston Globe.

In the Berkshires we will not get to blizzard-level conditions, but we still will need to deal with a ferocious and gusting wind. Gusts into the 40 mph range could occur midday on Monday, making visibility a real issue. If we do end up with a clean sweep for snow days for Berkshire County schools, it will largely be due to the wind.

Sometimes we ask you to root for ice. For this storm--if you're keen to have a snow day--you need to root for wind.

Further updates coming on Sunday!

Winter Storm Watch -- Sunday/Monday, Feb. 22-23

At the GSD Home Office, we tacked on 5 more inches to our seasonal snow total of 44.2". But the big news is a developing coastal storm that could impact school on Monday.

The last two weather-makers were clippers that came in from the west/northwest. This Sunday/Monday storm, though, will be a good old-fashioned coastal storm. That means it has much more moisture associated with it and could produce a moderate to heavy snowfall, especially for South County.

NWS Albany has put up a Winter Storm Watch that begins Sunday morning and ends Monday afternoon. The long-ish duration of the watch means that snow could pile up.

But there's a lot of uncertainty still about the track of the storm. Should it continue to trend more northerly, we will see the Watch upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning. If the storm flattens out and heads more out to sea, we may see the Watch cancelled or turned into Winter Weather Advisory for lighter snow amounts.

The County's last clean sweep of snow days back on January 26 was a slam dunk and most Superintendents called in the snow day the day before. Such is not the case for this storm. The cut-off line between 5-7" and 1-2" will be fairly distinct, so this will be a storm that we'll have to wait out until Monday morning.

The current position of the GSD Staff on this storm is "less confident" (but that is always subject to change!). South County schools will have a much better chance of snow days than North County schools. The timing looks really good so delays and full snow days are very much in play. But we could see a scenario where districts like North Adams, Mount Greylock and Hoosac Valley have a full day of school, and Southern Berkshire has the day off. There could be that much difference in predicted snow amounts south to north.

As for the models, take a look below:

Euro

North American

Short-range NAM

You can see that there's still some discrepancy between the Euro and the North American. Connecticut and Rhode Island schools are definitely looking at full snow days, but it's still a little iffy for our entire County. The NAM does tend to run a little hot, so its 8-12" prediction is almost assuredly too high.

Much more to come on this developing very interesting situation.

Winter Weather Advisory for Friday, Feb. 20

The Winter Weather Advisory that we just had on Wednesday proved to be a bust at the GSD Home Office--just a few wet flakes and no accumulation--and we now have a second Advisory level storm to deal with on Friday.

Your weather app may be showing a moderate snowfall for Friday into Saturday, but we're not so sure this storm is going to generate that much snow.

NWS Albany

The Winter Weather Advisory is calling for a combination of mixed precipitation and snow. The forecast is for 2-4" for the County, with a the northeast hill towns seeing up to half a foot. Southern Vermont and the Adirondacks have Winter Storm Warnings posted. 

According to NWS Albany meteorologists, the precipitation will start as snow then transition to mixed precipitation then switch back over to snow. We should be right around 32 degrees for the day, which is why we will see snow and mixed precipitation. The transitions are supposed to happen throughout the day and early evening then snow showers will continue after midnight. If there is a period of heavier snow, it will take place well after dark. 

Accuweather's map shows the path of this clipper system.

Both the North American and Euro models are showing 4-6", but the shorter-term NAM model is showing less precipitation. The runs of the NAM model are telling us that snow totals will be on the lower end of the 2-4" prediction and we agree with that prediction.

Expect a messy day on Friday!

Winter Weather Advisory -- Wed. Feb. 18

We have another midweek Winter Weather Advisory to deal with. This one again results from a clipper system that will move into our area this afternoon. We should see 1-3" around Berkshire County when the snow finishes up before midnight.

Because it's so warm out, the storm may start with a period of wintry mix before it transitions to all snow as the air column cools. This snow will be wet and heavy.

NWS Albany snow map for Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Wintry mix and/or snow should start this afternoon around 2 PM in most locations. Any games or events this evening may be cancelled, but the more intrepid ADs and Superintendents will carry on.

The next storms are expected to impact our area Friday and Sunday/Monday. Friday's storm will be similar to tonight's storm. And we're definitely keeping an eye on the late weekend storm to see if it will impact school on Monday. The models are not in agreement so it may be a long shot, but meteorologists keep mentioning the possibility so we'll stay on it.

Winter Weather Advisory for Tuesday Night, Wednesday Morning

Today the National Weather Service expanded the Winter Weather Advisory to include the Berkshires because of a slight shift in the forecast. We are still expected to get 1-2" of snow--with a few places in Northern Berkshire getting 3"--but we may see a period of icing before this clipper system slides on by.

The expected ice accumulation is not supposed to be particularly thick, but it could be enough of a hazard to cause delays for the Wednesday morning bus runs.

We think many road crews will be able to handle the low snow total and potential ice, but we expect at least a few schools will go with the delayed start. South County school districts have a higher chance for ice, so our best bets for delays will be schools around or south of I-90.

NWS Albany ice map for tomorrow (Wednesday AM). This is the only time we will be rooting for ice to come into our community.

We'll run a list tomorrow morning should a few districts call in the 2-hour delay.

Warmer This Week and Two Chances for Snow

It appears the worst of the cold is behind us, as temperatures will moderate this week and return to more seasonal norms. We'll see the thermometer move into the 30s during the day and mid-teens overnight. It's certainly possible for us to go as low as we did this past weekend--negative 12 on Sunday morning--but it's a sound bet that we won't get that cold again this winter.

A few schools in New York delayed the start of school due to the cold today (Monday), but the Superintendents of the Berkshires and Western Mass did not call in two-hour freeze delays.

Image courtesy of NWS Albany.

As for snow this week, we are looking at two potential storms. The first is another clipper system for Tuesday afternoon and night, which means a lighter snowfall of 2-3" for much of Berkshire County. There's a chance that the storm could pick up more energy off the coast for Wednesday but that scenario is unlikely. There is a chance for delays on Wednesday but we do not have a lot of confidence that schools will start late that day.

The GSD Staff is also seeing some chatter about a coastal storm for the weekend. Both models are showing favorable conditions for snow. It's not expected to be a huge storm, but travel on Sunday and the commute to work could be impacted on Monday. Many people have Monday off due to school vacation week and President's Day, so school closings are not a concern.

The Euro model showing snow for late in the weekend.

We'll keep an eye on Tuesday's small storm just in case it leads to delays on Wednesday. 

Friday Night Snow Then Dangerously Cold Temps

We've made it to Friday, and there is only one week of school until the public schools enjoy their February break. February break always seems to come upon us very quickly. Maybe school officials should think about pushing it back a week or two, as the stretch between February break and April break without a holiday is quite long. 

An Alberta clipper will pass through our area late tonight and drop 1-3 inches of snow on the County by Saturday afternoon. The snow will be light and fluffy and should be easy to clear. Roads will be snow-covered for a stretch but should be fine if motorists take a little extra time.

NWS Albany snow projection for the Friday/Saturday clipper.

Then the cold kicks in and the winds pick up. Temps will bottom out between -5 and -10 Sunday morning, and some places will see 30-40 mph wind gusts. That drops the "real feel" temp to -25 to -35 degrees. Exposed skin can get frostbitten in about 10 minutes in those conditions so bundle up.

The North American model's temperature forecast for 6 AM Monday. Freeze delays are possible.

The high temp on Super Bowl Sunday will be in the single digits, which means Monday morning will also be very cold. Again, we'll see temps around -5 to -10. This means freeze delays are in play for Monday morning. A Patriots win coupled with a two-hour freeze delay would be a delightful way to start the week.

Your Standard Winter Week Ahead (Feb. 2-6)

The week of February 2-6 will be the most basic of winter weeks. We'll see highs in the 20s during the day, lows in the teens at night, and a chance for an inch or two of snow on Friday. Very basic, very boring, and no weather-related delays or cancellations are expected.

Our friend Phil the groundhog did see his shadow down in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania this morning, which means we have another 6 weeks of winter ahead of us. Given the cold and relatively snow-filled season we've had already, this makes sense.

Punxsutawney Phil

The only unusual weather to look out for is another shot of very cold air next weekend. After the clipper system enters our area on Friday afternoon through Friday night, more bitter cold air comes in behind it. Daily highs on the weekend will only be in the single digits Saturday and Sunday.

Get outside and enjoy the milder temps this week. It will be a great week for sledding, snowshoeing, skiing and other winter outdoor activities.

Cold Advisory & the Weekend Nor'easter

We hit a new temperature low this morning at GSD Headquarters, with a reading of -7 on the thermometer. With no cloud cover and no breeze, the temps plummeted overnight due to radiational cooling.

Temps will be very low Friday morning, but there will be a stiff breeze to add to our discomfort. With expected wind chill values in the low -20s, NWS Albany has put up a Cold Weather Advisory for our area.

We don't think this will be enough for freeze delays, but there is a chance that a few diesel engine buses don't start and the start of school is delayed. Again, confidence is low of this situation playing out.

Saturday morning is going to be very cold with some areas seeing -10 degrees. Had these temps been predicted for a school day, we would definitely have seen a few freeze delays.

Saturday morning's forecasted temperatures. Bundle up!

Unfortunately, our nor'easter will be exiting stage left and heading out to sea. Rhode Island, Boston, and the Cape may pick up several inches but not us. The storm will kick up a strong breeze so again will contend with low wind chill values on Sunday and Monday.

We've looked at the longer-range models and nothing big is on the horizon. The cold will moderate slightly but no days will get above freezing for the next 10 days.

Nor'easter This Weekend?

We did end up picking up a few delay this morning with the bulk of them in North County. 

It will be quiet for the next few days with a stray flake here and there. The cold air is firmly in place and temps in the teens will be the norm for the next several days.

There is chatter about a coastal storm late Saturday into Sunday, but both of the favored models take the storm out to sea. NWS Albany reports that there's a 10-30% chance for 7+ inches of snow for Albany and Western Mass. There's too much uncertainty now to render a verdict, but we'll definitely keep an eye on it.

The North American Model for Sunday. This storm needs to move west 100 miles or so for us to get a significant storm.

Delays for Tuesday, Jan. 27

A few schools have decided to give more time to clean up from the storm. Here's the latest list [updated 6:49 AM]

DELAYS:

Berkshire Arts and Technology (2 hrs)

Clarksburg (2 hrs)

Emma Miller (2 hrs)

Florida (2 hrs)
Hoosac Valley (2 hrs)
MCLA (10:30 opening)

North Adams (2 hrs)

Richmond Consolidated (2 hrs)

Possible Delays Tuesday

Road crews have done a good job keeping up with the light snow throughout the day today, but delays are still possible for schools in Berkshire County on Tuesday.

Many schools in the Pioneer Valley and over in Albany are going with 2-hour delays, so it's best that we in Berkshire County stay alert to the possible surprise call for a delay tomorrow.

On another note, the models for the Sunday storm took a bad turn today and are showing the storm sliding out to sea. But that was also the case for yesterday's storm at one point so we still need to pay attention to the chance for snow on Sunday.

NWS Albany. Things are calming down for a few days.

Snow Storm Recap; New Storm Possible on Sunday

The Berkshires may see an additional inch or two today, but this storm is effectively over. We recorded 9.5" at GSD Headquarters in Williamstown. Generally, though, most in the county got between 10 and 16 inches. We did not quite get to the 18" or 24" prediction. The heavier snow bands were to our east.

While shoveling this morning, a few staff members reported a fine mist that was instantly freezing on surfaces due to the cold temperature (16 degrees).  This mist will likely give way to snow later in the morning.

Because our snow totals were not at the blockbuster level that was predicted, it's unlikely that we'll see delays on Wednesday.

The rest of the week will be cold with daily highs in the mid-teens and lows in the single digits. Friday is expected to be the coldest day of the week with the mercury only reaching the 12 degree mark.

Both models are showing a storm for Sunday into Monday (again). The Euro model is showing another 6-8 storm for southern New England, but the North American model takes the bulk of the storm out to sea. Folks on the coast of New England would see snow.

The Euro's snow prediction for Sunday (Feb. 1) night.

We will be monitoring to see if the models come into alignment later in the week. Another snow day for Monday is a possibility.

Cancellations for Monday, Jan. 26

For info about the storm and some great maps, go here.

Clean sweep. Hunker down and enjoy the snow. We'll be back tomorrow to speculate about delays and cancellations for Tuesday, should this storm perform as expected. Here's the list [updated Sun. Jan. 25 1:04 PM]:

SNOW DAY:

Bement School

Berkshire Arts and Technology
Berkshire Community College

Berkshire Country Day

Berkshire Hills

Berkshire Montessori

Berkshire Waldorf

Central Berkshire

Clarksburg

Emma Miller

Farmington River

Hancock

Hillcrest

Hoosac Valley

Lee

Lenox

MCLA

McCann Technical

Mount Greylock

North Adams

Pine Cobble

Pittsfield

Richmond Consolidated

Southern Berkshire

Southwest Vermont SU

Williams College (Admin Offices, Children's Center)

Winter Storm Warning and Maps for the Big Storm (Jan. 25/26)

The thermometer read -5 at GSD Headquarters this morning, and we're seeing wind chills in the -20s. It's officially the coldest morning of the winter of 2025-26.

This storm is affecting a large swath of the country. Accuweather estimates that 146 million people are in Winter Storm Warning area from Texas to Maine.

The storm is still on track to dump a foot or more of light fluffy snow on us. The Winter Storm Warning was announced Friday (much earlier than normal) and is set to begin Sunday morning and end at 7 PM on Monday. 

Weather experts have moved the start time up. It appears the snow will start around 7 AM in southernmost Berkshire County and then the snow line slowly lifts, eventually getting to North Adams around 11 AM.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has declared a remote day for all non-essential state workers. She also has advised private companies allow people to work from home. Usually when that happens, public schools decide to close their doors for the day. Many schools and colleges in the Springfield area have already announced their closure for Monday. The only question for us in Berkshire County is when--not if--Superintendents will make their announcements about the snow day.

Here are some maps from around the country and the Northeast:

Boston Globe. Purple is definitely trending this year.

The Weather Channel. Love those pink fissures amid all that purple.

Accuweather. Keeping it conservative.

Channel 22 Springfield. Reminiscent of a homework assignment completed at the last moment.

Channel 10 Albany. The purple trend continues but the clash with the blue is unsettling.

NWS Albany. Reliable and autumnal.

Sunday/Monday Storm Update

The Berkshires will see an Extreme Cold Warning go into effect at 7 PM tonight. The temperature will drop below 0 tonight, and the wind is really going to pick up. Due to the cold and wind combo, frostbite can occur in only about 10 minutes of exposure. Taking your dog out Saturday morning is going to be challenging.

The phasing of two energy systems out west that we wrote about early in the week is going to happen. So, the coastal storm will stay closer to the coast and deliver a major snowstorm for the first time in a long time. The Euro model is showing a few more inches of snow for us than the North American model, but both show 7+ inches. 

Bring it on!

Meteorologists' consensus is that our area and much of Southern New England will see 10-18 inches of snow, with some parts getting 2 feet. Pittsfield has a 58% chance of exceeding 12" of snow. 

The snow is still expected to begin around noon on Sunday--give or take an hour--and continue through Monday afternoon or early evening. The heaviest snow will fall Sunday evening with rates of 1-2" per hour.

Most indicators are pointing to snow days for all for Monday, but there is a chance that we see just 8" of snow with most of it falling Sunday night as the storm takes a slightly more southern track. Eight inches is probably enough for a snow day decision, but if it wraps up earlier than expected, delays would be in order.

We'll have more snow prediction maps later today.

Major Storm Heading Our Way

It's wild how much chatter there is about this storm that's not scheduled to start until about noon on Sunday.

Thursday night's Euro model. Close to a foot for all!

Here are key pieces of info:

*A Winter Storm Watch is already in effect for Sunday/Monday, which is an earlier than usual posting of this kind of alert.

*It will be a long duration storm, perhaps lasting 30-36 hours. Heaviest snow will fall Sunday night with lighter snow rates expected throughout the day on Monday.

*The forecast for liquid precipitation is around 1.0 inch. The typical ratio of 12 inches of snow to every one inch of liquid is too low for this storm because of how cold it is. We will likely see 15:1 or 18:1 ratios. The snow quality will be light and fluffy.

*Blowing and drifting of the snow will become an issue Monday night into Tuesday, setting up possible delays on Tuesday.

*If NWS Albany moves the Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning--probably Saturday morning--the only question will be when on Sunday your Superintendent is going to call for the snow day on Monday.

*But...the storm could shift south, which would significantly reduce our snow totals. It's not a slam dunk just yet.

  

Extreme Cold Then (Extreme?) Snow

"Maybe have your yard sticks located and ready?"

This was the question that caught our attention in Thursday morning's NWS Albany's Area Forecast Discussion of the coastal snow storm heading our way Sunday and Monday.

We certainly could be in for the long-awaited big one.

Before we get to the latest on the Sunday/Monday potential nor'easter, we do have a few days of dangerously cold temps to deal with. The Berkshires are already under an Extreme Cold Watch for Friday evening through Saturday. Wind chills may get all the way down to -30. That's no joke.

Meteorologists and forecast models continue to discuss a moderate to major snow event Sunday and Monday. The Euro and North American models are showing 5-8" for this storm, but we are seeing higher amounts forecasted from other sources. The snow should start by midday on Sunday and last until Monday afternoon or evening. If that's the case, we will see a snow day clean sweep for Berkshire County and all of Massachusetts.

Here are some maps to peruse until we can bring you more information:

Euro model

North American

Weather Channel/Intellicast. (Yes, that shows 12+ inches for CT and almost all of MA.)

Monday (Jan. 26) Snow Day?

The first big weather story is the bitter cold that will sweep into the Berkshires Friday night and last through the weekend. Dangerously cold temps are expected with single digit high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday. It will be a good weekend for indoor sports and activities.

We may have a developing situation for Monday. Certain indicators are showing an increasing chance for measurable snow Sunday night into Monday. There will be sizable storm to our south that will be moving up the coast. The last few runs of the models are taking the storm on a more northerly track. The more northerly the better if we want a snow day on Monday.

Euro Model for Sunday night.

North American Model for Sunday night.

It may sound complicated, but the storm will move more northerly if two energy systems phase (i.e. join together.) One is in the upper plains. The other is in the Southwest. If they come together, then we are in business as this will pull the coastal storm closer to New England.

So, if we want lots of snow Sunday night (see the Euro model above), we need those to energy systems out west to phase. If they don't, the coastal storm will slide out to sea (see the North American model above).

Despite the difference of opinion being put forth by the models, we have a sneaky feeling that this storm might get its act together and give us a shot at a snow day for Monday. We're very excited to see what will happen as we get closer to the weekend.

Cold Week Ahead (Jan. 19-25)

The two-phases of the snow Friday night and Saturday produced our biggest snowfall of the winter season. We got 5.1" at the GSD Home Office in Williamstown, and we saw several 6+" totals in Pittsfield and Lenox. All in all a nice surprise that should give us a good snow base for the next few weeks.

As for the week ahead, it's looking very cold with not that much snow. Tuesday will be very cold with high temps in the mid-teens. We'll see a brief warm up to more seasonable temperatures Wednesday through Friday (20s with a warmup on Thursday into the 30s). 

Euro model temperature forecast for Saturday morning. Yikes!

But then gird yourself for the weekend.  Highs on Saturday and Sunday will be in the single digits. Most people on Saturday morning will wake up to the coldest readings of the season: -5 and colder for our area.

As for snow, we could see a dusting here and there mid-week. Unfortunately, the forecast is for the cold air to move in under calm conditions. There might be something big brewing the first week of February, but only one model is giving us that scenario.

But as Saturday's snow revealed, things can change rapidly in this neck of the woods. 

Snowy Saturday (Jan. 17)

It appears everyone in Berkshire County will be waking on Saturday to a fresh blanket of snow. NWS Albany has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Berkshires that begins Friday night. The snow prediction range is a ludicrous 2 to 9 inches. That really narrows it down!

Whether you get 2 inches (most likely South County) or 9 inches (most likely Prospect Mountain in Southern Vermont), the snow will start after midnight and continue into the early afternoon. It's going to stay under freezing for the next 10 days so there is no chance of seeing a changeover with this storm. (Looking at the long-range forecast, we are headed for a long and deep cold stretch. Sunday will be the last day we see 30 degrees. Highs on Tuesday will be in the low teens.) 

The short range model (NAM) showing a moderate snow fall for Saturday.

Our prediction is for 3-5" for the County with high end totals north of Pittsfield, and lower totals from Pittsfield and south. There should be enough snow for sledding and possible snow fort/snow people creation if the temps can get close to 30. Roads will be slow-going most of Saturday. Postponement of games and activities is certainly possible for anything scheduled for Saturday morning.

As for future storms that might actually impact the length of the school day, we have our eye on a storm for the end of next week (week of Jan. 20). The Euro is showing a moderate snow storm, but the North American model takes the snow to our north. It definitely will be cold enough for snow next week.

Enjoy the snow and have a great long weekend if you have the day off on Monday!

Delays Possible Thursday, Jan. 15

There has not been too much movement in the forecast for Thursday. A potential nor'easter is now headed out to sea, so all we're left with is a rain to snow event that starts this afternoon and through the morning commute tomorrow.

The big question mark is when the rain will transition to snow. It's going to be warm today (low 40s), which means it's going to take a while for the temps to get low enough for Snow. If the rain-to-snow transition occurs early enough (between 4 and 5 AM), we could see delays. The snow forecast only ranges from 0.5" to 2" so there's not much to work with, but if the timing is right, conditions will be ripe for a few delays, especially in Northern Berkshire County.

A meager amount of snow is predicted. The timing will need to be perfect for delays.

At this point we're going to go low on the Confidence Meter. North Adams, Hoosac Valley, Mount Greylock, and the mountain elementary schools all have a better chance for delays than students in Pittsfield and southward.

Should developments warrant it, we'll communicate any new information later this evening.

Potential for Snow on Thursday (Jan. 14)

 The milder temperatures that we saw this past weekend will stick around for a few more days until a complex system moves into our area Wednesday night. This system--actually, multiple systems--will impact our weather through Friday.

In simplest terms we are eying snow for Thursday into Thursday night. Right now meteorologists are looking at the 7 AM Thursday to 7 AM Friday for a period of snow. The North American model is coming in a little stronger with 2-3 inches predicted, and the Euro is only showing 1-2 inches. Either way, there is general agreement that we will have a plowable but minor snowfall.

The North American model (GFS) for Thursday's snow.

The timing is not great. It's forecasted to start a little later than we would like. Also, the storm may track out to sea. And given the generous snow day that we received last week, Superintendents may be less willing to call a full snow day based on a 1-3" forecast.

What we need to see happen is the forecast to move into the 3-5" range, then we will see some snow days for students of Berkshire County. 

As always, the GSD Staff will be monitoring the situation around the clock and updating daily.

Surprise Snow Day (For Most)

Well, we definitely missed on that one. We were pretty confident that most schools would be in full session and only a few districts would see delays today (Wednesday), especially in the eastern hill towns. The northern corner elementary schools--Clarksburg, Florida, Emma Miller--were likely to see delays. Central Berkshire was definitely also in play.

But quite early on it became apparent that Superintendents up and down the County were going with the delay. And then about an hour later, the first few dominoes fell and most students ended up with a surprise full snow day. Only a few South County schools stuck to their guns and went with the two-hour delay.

Not a lot of snow to report in the Berkshires as a result of the storm.

For some, today's snow day pushes the last day of school past Juneteenth (on a Friday), which means school will go into the week of June 22. That's already starting to sound late. And that's going to cut into our FIFA World Cup watching time.

As for our next storm, we are eyeing some snow activity for the end of next week. The Euro isn't showing much but the North American model is showing 2-4 for Thursday/Friday. Again, maybe another delay situation. Unfortunately, we see no big storms in sight for the next ten days.

Delays and Cancellations for Wednesday, Jan. 7

All school districts have chosen to go with a two-hour delay today due to ice accumulation. With temps right around freezing for the next few hours and more precipitation expected, the delay appears to be the safe call. 

***Most schools have upgraded to a full snow day. [updated 9:26 AM]

SNOW DAY:

Berkshire Arts and Technology

Berkshire Country Day
Berkshire Montessori
Berkshire Waldorf

Central Berkshire 

Clarksburg
Emma Miller

Florida

Hancock

Hillcrest

Hoosac Valley

Lee

Lenox

McCann
Mount Greylock

North Adams

Pine Cobble

Pittsfield

Richmond

Southern Berkshire

Southwest Vermont SU

TWO-HOUR DELAY:

Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Hills

Farmington River

Winter Weather Advisory For Tuesday Night and Wednesday Morning (Jan. 6/7)

There it is. The ever-present 6-7. It had to happen at some point.

The GSD Staff is still holding out hope for delays on Wednesday. The latest intel indicates that we will see a period of freezing rain this afternoon and even into tomorrow morning's commute. The forecast is for 0.1 to 0.2 inches of ice, which is why a Winter Weather Advisory has been announced for our area. Ice is expected to become a concern around 7 or 8 this evening.

NWS Albany

Because road crews will have ample time to salt the roads and because we will eventually switch over to all rain, it's not likely that we will have widespread delays tomorrow. Your best bet for a delay will be in the eastern hill towns where the cold air will hold on longer.

This will be a "wake-up-and-see" kind of storm. Some districts may get a nice surprise in the morning. 

The short-range NAM Model favors more severe icing.

Unsettled Weather for the 1st Week of January

As we begin what is typically the snowiest month of the year--we can expect between 15 and 20 inches this month--the forecast for the first school week of 2026 supports a few chances for light snow.

To finish up the weekend, we will see a dusting to 1" by the time we wake up on Sunday. Then, we can expect two typically cold days (mid-20s), before the next threat of snow occurs Monday afternoon into the night. It's a clipper system, so it will not have a lot of snow with it. Maybe an inch or two for the County.

This forecast map from NWS Albany does not include the Tuesday clipper.

Wednesday is on the GSD radar (pun intended) for a potential delay. Another clipper will sweep through our area Tuesday night, which could give us a few inches of snow. Then, as it warms up into the mid-30s in the morning, we may see a multi-hour period of freezing rain. Ice and the morning commute may coincide, which would lead to widespread delays for Berkshire County. Very intriguing.

Unfortunately, we are expecting the mercury to climb into the upper 30s and 40s for Thursday through Sunday. There is also a chance for rain each of those days. As scholars of winter meteorology like to say: "That just stinks."

Longer range, the Euro model is showing the potential for a bigger storm on Wednesday, Jan. 14. Confidence is low that this storm will come to fruition, but we're definitely keeping an eye on it.

Euro model prediction for Jan. 14. We'll just have to wait and see...

We'll have more to say about the Wednesday situation once students get back to school on Monday. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!