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!