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.