Maps and Early Releases Tomorrow

Our Winter Storm Watch was upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning earlier today, and we could see a range from 1" to 12" in Berkshire County. That's quite a spread, and the reason for such a large range is elevation.

Areas over 1500' will see the highest amounts, likely over 6 inches; lower lying areas will see 3-5" with some folks in the southwest corner of the Berkshires only seeing an inch.

Earlier today we declared an early release for all students in Berkshire County:

Due to the Winter Storm Warning, we're mandating an early release for Berkshire County students on Monday. No distance learning or home-schooling will be allowed after 12 PM in order for students to have ample time to prepare to play in the snow.

— Greylock Snow Day (@GreylockSnowDa1) March 22, 2020

If you look at the radar tomorrow around noon, don't be fooled. You may see a blue blob over you and it won't be snowing. This will happen because the cold air will evaporate the snow before it hits the ground. (This is called virga.) So, snow should really start to fall between 1-2 PM.

Best sledding conditions should be in the early evening--get the flashlights out. The whole event should be wrapped up by sunrise on Tuesday.

Snow Starts Midday Monday

Another bright and sunny day is on tap today, but don't let the sunshine fool you. It's chilly this morning--it got down to 16 degrees at GSD Headquarters last night--and temps will top out in the low 40s today.

Storm onset times from NWS Albany

High clouds will start to move in later today in advance of a coastal storm. Right now the Berkshires have been issued a Winter Storm Watch, calling for the chance at 6+ inches of snow. We're still going with 3-6 inches for the County, with higher amounts in the higher locations. Eastern slope dwellers should be the big winners tomorrow.

The big change from yesterday is the later start to the storm. Snow is expected around 1 PM--give or take an hour.

The snow will be heavy and wet--good for sledding and crafting snowpeople, bad for shoveling. And speaking of shovels, keep yours handy as we may have a few more inches to clean up on Wednesday morning.

NWS Albany is still bullish on this storm.

Classic Spring Snow Storm For Monday

Don't put that shovel away just yet.

Despite temperatures in the high 60s on Friday, cold air has descended upon us and reminded us that it is still March and we live in New England.

It looks like we have fairly robust coastal storm headed our way for Monday. We will likely see 3-6 inches for the Berkshires, with higher amounts toward the Vermont border.

The models are telling two very different stories. The Euro is forecasting 6-7 inches for us, while the North American model only shows an inch or so. Professional meteorologists are siding with the Euro on this one and are all in for half a foot of snow for our area.

The European model forecast for Monday.

Expect to see the snow start mid-morning and last through that period when people who drove to work would return home from their places of employment, a.k.a what we used to call "the evening commute."

Travel should be challenging on Monday, which will make staying at home that much easier. The last flakes should stop falling shortly after midnight. And the hits keep coming as this might not be the end of the snow for the week. Another few inches are forecasted for Wednesday. Good times!

Stay safe and do your part to support local businesses--the ones that are still open--if you have the means to.

Berkshire COVID-19 Cancellations

Despite our typical it's-all-in-good-fun tone to this source for weather information, we have had dozens of requests to post information about school closings in Berkshire County due to COVID-19.

This virus has proven to be an ever-evolving situation. On Sunday (3/15) evening, we just learned that the Commonwealth has ramped up restrictions. Gatherings of 25 people are now strongly discouraged, and--this is not insignificant--schools are now closed through April 7th. If you're not taking this seriously yet and treating it as an extended snow day, then maybe it's time to start putting into effect social distancing guidelines. We're not sure how this will affect private and parochial schools just yet, so we'll have updates about them soon.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS-- **All schools closed through April 7th.**

BART
Berkshire Hills
Central Berkshire Regional 
Clarksburg Elementary
Emma Miller
Florida Elementary
Gabriel Abbott 
Hoosac Valley Regional (Adams/Cheshire)
Lee
Lenox
McCann
Mount Greylock Regional (Williamstown/Lanesborough)
Pittsfield
North Adams
Rowe Elementary
Southern Berkshire
Southwest Supervisory School Union (Wed. 3/18 through Mon. April 6)

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Berkshire Christian -- closed Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27.
Berkshire School -- students are on delayed spring break. Students will begin remote learning on April 2nd. Students will return to campus April 13th (for now).
Buxton School --- closed through April 4th.
Darrow School -- extended spring break beginning March 14th. Students will resume classes April 6th.
Emma Willard -- extended spring break began March 10th. Students will return to campus April 6th.
Miss Hall's School -- no school Friday, March 13 and extended spring break begins. Students to
resume classes March 30.
Pine Cobble -- early spring break; closed 3/16 through April 4; classes resume April 6.
Saint Agnes Academy (Dalton) -- closed March 16 through March 27.

COLLEGES:

Berkshire Community College -- students are on break as of March 13; classes will be closed through March 27.
MCLA -- Spring Break begins March 13; classes cancelled for the week of March 23-27; students can return to campus Sunday, March. 30th.
Williams -- The last day of classes is March 13. Students will have three weeks of spring break and then resume their course remotely on Monday, April 6.

STATES THAT HAVE CLOSED SCHOOL:

Alabama (through 4/5)
Alaska (through 3/27)
Arizona (through 3/27)
Arkansas (through 3/29)
California
Colorado (through 4/17)
Connecticut (through 3/29)
Delaware (through 3/27)
Florida (through 4/15)
Georgia (through 3/31)
Hawaii (through 4/7)
Idaho
Illinois (through 3/27)
Indiana
Iowa (through 4/13)
Kansas (through the end of the school year--5/31)
Kentucky (recommended through 3/29)
Louisiana (through 4/12)
Maine (most schools closed through 3/27)
Maryland (through 4/5)
Massachusetts (through 4/7)
Michigan (through 4/5)
Minnesota (through 3/27)
Mississippi (recommended through 3/27)
Missouri (most schools are off but no state mandate)
Montana (through 3/27)
Nebraska
Nevada (most schools through 4/10)
New Hampshire (3/23 through 4/3, at least)
New Jersey (through 4/1)
New Mexico (through 4/5)
New York (closed through 4/1)
New York City (through 4/20)
North Carolina (through 3/27)
North Dakota (through 3/20)
Ohio (through 4/5)
Oklahoma (through 4/6)
Oregon (through 3/31)
Pennsylvania (through 3/27)
Rhode Island (through 3/20)
South Carolina (through 3/31)
South Dakota (through 3/27)
Tennessee (through 3/31)
Texas
Utah ("soft" closure through 3/27)
Vermont (through 4/6)
Virginia (through 3/27)
Washington, DC (through 3/31)
Washington (through 4/24)
West Virginia (until further notice)
Wisconsin (through 3/27)
Wyoming (recommended through 4/5)