Early Releases for Tuesday, Feb. 12

**We've been upgraded. The Winter Storm Warning is now in effect from 10 AM Tuesday to noon on Wednesday. Six to 10 inches of snow plus high winds.** [updated 5:51 PM]

Please see our previous post for particulars about the timing, precipitation types, and amount of snow expected for tomorrow's storm. But the good news is that a few schools nearby have called in for early releases for Tuesday. With the storm forecasted to start before the close of school, we won't be surprised to see this list grow this evening. It's almost assured that all afternoon and evening activities will be cancelled tomorrow.

As early releases are more taxing on families, most releases should be called in tonight, not tomorrow morning.

We'll continue to update this list, and we'll offer up one more assessment and some maps later this evening.

EARLY RELEASE:

Central Berkshire
Emma Miller
Gabriel Abbott
Hoosick Falls
Farmington River
Mohawk Trail
Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union

Winter Storm Update -- Midday Report

While our friends to the north have been upgraded from the Watch to the Warning, Berkshire County still has only the Watch in place. If we are to get the upgrade, it will happen for Northern Berkshire only.

Most maps we're seeing are showing 3-6" for South County and 6-9" for the northern half. We will also see sleet force its way in at some point--probably closer to midnight--which will suppress our snow totals.

Image courtesy of NWS Albany.

NWS Albany tells us that the snow will start in Berkshire County at noon tomorrow. That piece of information could lead schools to call for the early release. We're as curious as you are about how Superintendents will react to this forecast. Given the extra-precaution we saw with the freeze days and delays, we will not be at all surprised to see several early releases announced tonight for Tuesday.

As for our snow day chances on Wednesday, the storm is expected to taper off in the morning hours. But a big factor could be the wind. We have a Wind Advisory up for Berkshire County, with wind gusts up to 50 mph expected. If these gusts are prevalent when the Supers wake up on Wednesday, the blowing of snow will create enough of a hazard for road crews and bus drivers to warrant delays (at the least) and full snow days (at best).

The threat of warm air moving into the area after the initial onslaught of snow has us feeling hesitant about across the board delays and snow days for Wednesday. The period of moderate and heavy snow will end relatively early, so it will be up to the sleet and lingering snow bursts to get us to the promised land, which is a very tenuous situation to be in.

We'll have updated info and several maps later this afternoon and/or tonight.

Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday & Wednesday

Snow and sleet are headed our way on Tuesday, and the National Weather Service thinks we'll get at least half a foot so it has announced a Winter Storm Watch starting at 10 AM Tuesday and lasting through noon on Wednesday.

Initially, we did not like the timing on this storm, but the last few runs of the models have slowed it down so it is likely we'll see snow or sleet into the morning commute on Wednesday. Most estimates indicate 6-8 inches for northern Berkshire County and 4-6 in South County. These numbers could easily change significantly in either direction as the track of the storm will determine how much snow we get--and when we changeover to sleet for a time. The changeover is highly likely, and we don't like that.

Image courtesy of NWS Albany

This storm is no slam-dunk nor'easter. It is a complicated storm because there are two low pressure systems involved--a "double-barrel low" as they say in meteorological parlance--and it's not always clear how the first low will impact the second one.

If this storm hits a home run, then we're looking at an early release on Tuesday followed by a full snow day on Wednesday. If it hits a little dribbler to the mound, we might see a few delays in the higher elevation towns but everyone else will see a full day of school.

So let's aim right for the head pin on this one and go with a few releases on Tuesday and everyone on Wednesday morning getting a delay or full snow day. That's the official GSD position at the nonce, but it will change as we get closer to the storm and better understand the impact the sleet will have on this storm.

Check back in tomorrow for more sub-optimal sports metaphors and updated information about our approaching storm.