Snow Days: Wednesday, February 7

Good morning! The snow is still a few hours away from Berkshire County, but many school districts have phoned in their decision for today.

We expect the snow to begin around 9:30, south and north, and it should become heavy fairly soon thereafter. We will see a period of sleet for the entire county, which will keep totals in the 6-8" range north and 4-6" range south. As a result, we should see a clean sweep for snow days.

Here is our running tally, which we'll update throughout the morning:

SNOW DAY:

Adams-Cheshire
BArT
Bement School
Berkshire Christian
Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Country Day
Berkshire Hills
Berkshire Montessori
Berkshire Waldorf HS
Central Berkshire
Emma Miller
Farmington River
Gabriel Abbott Memorial
Hancock
Housatonic Academy
Kinderhof Waldorf
Lanesborough
Lee
Lenox
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Mount Greylock
North Adams
Northern Berkshire Vocational (McCann)
Pine Cobble
Pittsfield
Southern Vermont College
Richmond
Southern Berkshire
Southern Vermont SU
Williams College (Administration Offices at 1:30)
Williamstown

Expected Snowfall:

Winter Storm Wednesday (February 7)

We've said all we really need to say about the storm, but there are a few important updates. The storm does seem to be moving just slightly to the north of us, which means North County will get the brunt and should stay as all snow, while South County should see plenty of sleet. We've said our piece on sleet earlier, so those lower snow totals are not completely detrimental.

There's just enough off about this storm to think that a bust is possible. But because North County is in a Winter Storm Warning and the Winter Storm Watch continues for the south--and the storm is expected to hit fairly hard when it starts--it would appear the roads will be amply snow-covered for the ride home at around noon. Also, because we'll be close to freezing, the snow will be a greasy snow, not the dry powdery kind. This will make travel difficult.

As long as the snow starts when it is supposed to, almost all students will have a short day or a full snow day. This tweet from NWS Albany supports our thinking that the snow will start between 9 and 10 AM.

Unfortunately, most Superintendents (not North Adams'!) made the prudent decision to wait until the AM to make their decisions. We'll be up bright and early to start the running tally. But here's what we have so far:

CLOSED:

North Adams
Gabriel Abbott Memorial
Farmington River
Berkshire Waldorf HS
Southern Vermont SU

Midday Report: Wednesday Storm (February 7)

Almost all weather experts are on board for a major snowstorm for Wednesday. We continue to have high confidence in the early release for all districts in Berkshire County, and a better than 55% chance that we get full snow days for all.

The mixed precipitation line does seem to be creeping ever northward. While that may seem like a problem for those who want a full snow day, it could actually work out better as we all know that it's safer to drive in snow than it is to drive on ice. So, even though snow totals might be lower in South County, we think they would have a better chance for a full snow day if the sleet is expected to move in as early as noon, as that is the time when most high school students will be released from their hives of learning and sent out onto the roadways.

Here are a few maps that we like:

Thanks, Weather Channel.

And you also, Channel 13 WNYT.

We're waiting for a few more runs of the models this afternoon and evening before we make our final call on this storm. But you should be encouraged.