Delays and Snow Days for Thursday, April 4

Snow and sleet is still coming down in Berkshire County. It should continue for several hours before tapering later this morning. Here is the list of delays and snow days: LAST UPDATE: 7:40 AM

SNOW DAY

Berkshire Community College -- no day classes; evening classes TBD

Berkshire Country Day

Berkshire Hills

Berkshire Montessori

Berkshire Waldorf

Clarksburg

Emma Miller (Savoy) 

Berkshire Arts & Technology

Central Berkshire
Gabriel Abbott (Florida)
Hancock

Hillcrest

Hoosac Valley

Lee [upgraded to closed]

Lenox

MCLA [now closed]

Mohawk Trail

Mount Greylock

North Adams

Pine Cobble

Pittsfield

Richmond 

Southern Berkshire

Southwest Vermont SU

Stamford (VT)

Storm Update and Early Cancellations for Thursday, April 4

The storm has started and the waiting game begins...for most. Already a few schools have gone with the snow day for tomorrow. Here's the short list (updated 9:02 PM): 

Emma Miller (Savoy) 

Berkshire Arts & Technology

Gabriel Abbott (Florida)

MCLA -- delayed opening; opening at 10:30

Mohawk Trail

Stamford (VT)

As of 5 PM, sleet is already mixing in with the rain at the Home Office of GSD in Williamstown (elevation 700 feet). Temps are in the mid 30s and creeping downward.

Most models and meteorologists are expecting the sleet to pick up and the snow to begin after midnight. But the worst of it does seem to be centered on the hours of the morning commute, which is giving us hope.

The radar, though, shows that this storm is not as tightly formed as we might like it to be. This means more of an off-and-on storm rather than long steady stretches of precipitation.

So, due to the more sporadic nature of the precipitation, snow totals need to be adjusted down, which means our chance of widespread snow days also needs to be ticked down. Again, schools in the northeast part of the county will have a much better chance for a snow day than schools in the southwest.

Unless there are many power outages tonight due to the high winds, we probably won't see too many schools added to the above list. We'll update it if we learn of any new cancellations. Otherwise, this is going to be a wait-and-see situation to see how bad the roads are in the 5 AM-8 AM window.

NWS Albany forecast.

Wind, Sleet and Snow -- April 3-4, 2024

Let's just get right into it. Overnight developments:

*The upgrade to a Winter Storm Warning in Northern Berkshire County for today through Friday morning--expected snow 5-10".

*South County now has a Winter Weather Advisory -- expected snow 2-4". 

*The continuation of the High Wind Warning for North County and a Wind Advisory for South County.

Today will feature rain and high winds. Wind speeds will peak later this evening. Gusts up to 60 MPH are expected in some higher elevation spots in Northern Berkshire county. 

Snow totals are great for eastern elevation towns--still in the 6+ range--but less exciting for the route 7 corridor -- only 2-5 inches south to north.

This is the NAM model showing ample sleet (2 AM Thursday).

But sleet is going to be the big X factor for snow day decisions. Right now models are showing the potential for prolonged period of sleet between 2 AM and 10 AM for Thursday. If the sleet does happen, roads will be very slick and most districts will call for a snow day.

Here's what we're thinking:

*Likely snow days for the northeast mountain elementary schools, Hoosac Valley, and Richmond Consolidated.

*Better than average chance for North Adams, Mount Greylock, and Central Berkshire.

*50/50 for Pittsfield.

*Less than average chance for Lenox, Lee, Berkshire Hills and Southern Berkshire.

Of course, a long period of sleet--especially if sleet is falling between 5 AM and 8 AM--will raise everyone's chances for full snow days.

And also in our proverbial back pocket is the fact that Superintendents have to had few opportunities to call in snow days. Some of them may be more inclined to use that snow-day-calling muscle that has atrophied this winter.