Winter Storm Warning -- Saturday/Sunday, Feb. 8-9

We have good ol' fashioned snowstorm headed our way for Saturday night. NWS Albany announced a Winter Storm Warning for our area, which means 5+ inches is almost guaranteed. Get your snow boots and shovels ready!

Saturday will be cold but snow-free. Snow will begin around 7 PM and last through the morning hours of Sunday. Total accumulations are expected to be in the 6-8" range. If Sunday were a school day we would be looking at snow days for all students in the Berkshires.

Accuweather

Temps will be in the low 20s when the bulk of the snow is coming down. This means the snow will be light and fluffy and should be able to be shoveled fairly easily.

Any Sunday morning events will likely be cancelled or postponed until later in the day.

NWS Albany

As we look at next week--the week before vacation for most--we have a very active period from Tuesday through Thursday. Our best guess right now is delays in play for Wednesday and delays/snow days possible for Thursday. 

There is uncertainty about how north or south these storms will track, which is why things are very much up in the air for those days. But the active pattern and cold temps should allow students to get a shortened day either Wednesday or Thursday.

Winter Storm Watch for Super Bowl Weekend

A proper winter storm is on the way for this weekend. But before we delve into the details, a few words about today's storm.

First, we were dead wrong. We greatly underestimated the worry that sleet induced, but we also think an element of softness crept into the proceedings. It's rare to cancel school (the night before for many districts) due to a Winter Weather Advisory only calling for 1-3" of snow. 

Perhaps the lack of snow days in January (for most districts) meant that Superintendents felt they had banked a few snow days and could afford to spend one today. Regardless of the circumstances that led to a clean sweep, the Berkshires were not unique in going with snow days. Most schools from Albany eastward cancelled school either Wednesday night or by 6 AM on Thursday. For the record, snow ended at the GSD Home Office by 11 AM, but the commute for the elementary schoolers would have been treacherous and resulted in angry parent phone calls and emails. 

NWS Albany -- weekend storm snowcast

We don't like to be wrong--especially because many of you value our opinion--but thank goodness we were wrong in the right direction.

Onward to the next storm. This one definitely looks more substantial. As of 3 PM today (Thursday), NWS Albany has hoisted the Winter Storm Watch flag. Because the Watch calls for 7+ inches, we will likely see a Winter Storm Warning announced by tomorrow afternoon.

North American model for the weekend storm.

The models are more or less in agreement. The Euro favors a more southerly storm and lower snow totals (4-5"), but the North American is showing 7-9". NWS Albany is clearly going with the North American model right now (see above).

Everybody will be able to get their Saturday activities in, but anything scheduled before noon on Sunday will likely be cancelled. The storm will be a fast mover and should wrap up by the mid-morning hours.

As for the next chance for a snow day, both models are showing snow for Thursday and Friday next week. The North American model is showing snow for later in the day on Thursday and into Friday, but the Euro give us another midday Thursday storm. Both models are showing 5+ inches of snow so that's encouraging and will be the center of our focus in the week before public school February break.

The current Euro model for 1 PM on Thursday, Feb. 13

Cancellations for Thursday, Feb. 6

[Updated: Thurs. 6:50 AM] If you don't have a snow day today, then your Superintendent is one hard-nosed individual. It looks like a clean sweep for County snow days today. Our instant analysis is that the word "sleet" spooked school heads and it all just snowballed. 

Snow should start by 8 AM and end as drizzle later this afternoon. We are still expecting 2-3" total.

SNOW DAY:

Berkshire Arts and Technology

Berkshire Community College (decision about night classes to be made at 1 PM)

Berkshire Country Day

Berkshire Hills

Berkshire Montessori

Berkshire Waldorf

Central Berkshire

Clarksburg

Emma Miller

Farmington River

Florida

Gabriel Abbott

Hancock

Hillcrest Academy

Hoosick Falls (NY)

Hoosac Valley

Lee

Lenox

McCann

MCLA (including evening classes)

Mount Greylock
North Adams

Pine Cobble

Pittsfield

Richmond Consolidated

Southern Berkshire