Where U.S. Schools Face the Most Closures

School delays and cancellations are part of life in many parts of the United States. Whether it’s snow in the Northeast, heat in the South, wildfires in the West, or hurricanes in the Southeast, extreme weather and climate-related disruptions can upend the school day. But not all areas are created equal when it comes to delays and cancellations.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• The regions that experience the most school closures and delays

• Key weather drivers behind those closures

• How climate change and evolving weather patterns are reshaping school disruption patterns

• What factors influence whether a school district delays, cancels, or stays open

• SEO keywords to track, such as “school closures by state,” “most snow days,” and “weather-related school delays”

1. Overview: Why Some Regions See More Closures

School closings and delays typically happen when unsafe weather conditions threaten student and staff safety. These include:

• Snow, ice, extreme cold — notably in the North and Midwest

• Hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding — in the Southeast and coastal areas

• Extreme heat — especially in parts of the South and Southwest

• Wildfires and smoke — in the West

• Rainstorms and mudslides — in mountainous or flood-prone regions

According to the Undaunted K-12 map of extreme-weather school closures, school closures in the U.S. from 2021 to 2024 have stemmed from a wide variety of events, including extreme heat, cold, flooding, wildfire, severe storms, and hurricanes. UndauntedK12

Add to that media reports—like outages in Nevada due to heat, flooding-related closures in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and wildfire-related closures in the West. Climate Action Campaign The data shows that certain areas see repeated disruptions.

2. Regions Most Impacted by Delays and Closures

A. Northeast and Upper Midwest — Snow & Ice

These areas see frequent snow and cold weather closures. Even when they’re well-equipped with plows and snow infrastructure, major storms can overwhelm local systems.

• The Northeast, including New York, New England, and the Great Lakes states, experiences heavy snowfall and nor’easters that repeatedly shut down schools in winter.

• In the Upper Midwest—think Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan—the combination of heavy snow, freezing rain, and subzero temperatures often forces cancellations. Some districts exhaust their allocated snow days each year. Benzie Record Patriot

An example: Louisville, Kentucky, averaged five weather-related closures per year; in a 10-year period, that added up to about 50 cancellations, even though Louisville sees milder winters than Chicago. The Atlantic

B. Southeast and Gulf Coast — Hurricanes and Flooding

Hurricanes, tropical storms, and related flooding frequently trigger delays and closures.

When storms make landfall, widespread flooding and power outages make transport and infrastructure unsafe, forcing widespread school shutdowns from Florida to the Carolinas and east into Virginia and Louisiana.

During the historic Gulf Coast blizzard of early 2025, even states like Mississippi, Alabama, and coastal North Carolina shut down schools for the week. Wikipedia

C. Southwest and South — Extreme Heat

In parts of the Southwest—Arizona, New Mexico—and the Deep South—Louisiana, Mississippi, parts of Georgia—extreme heat has become a growing school disruption cause, especially when schools lack air conditioning or face unsafe indoor temperatures. Climate Action Campaign

D. West Coast and Mountain West — Wildfires and Smoke

Elsewhere, wildfires can lead to closures due to hazardous air quality. Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and parts of the Mountain West face this threat regularly. Smoke can reach dangerous levels, making classrooms unsafe for students to breathe and forcing schools to close or switch to remote learning. Climate Action Campaign

E. Mixed Regions — Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

Some places—like the plains states (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska)—face tornado threats and severe thunderstorms that bring hail, flash flooding, and damaging winds, leading to sporadic closures or delays.

Similarly, densely populated metro areas in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic can see significant disruption from winter nor’easters or multiple storm systems.

3. Weather Trends & the Rising Costs of Disruption

Climate Change Intensifies Extremes

• More frequent extreme heat waves in the South and West lead to more closures.

• Heavier precipitation events can produce flooding more often in the Northeast and Midwest.

• Worsening wildfire seasons in the West increasingly disrupt schools—not just due to fires themselves, but also smoke days.

Economic & Learning Impacts

Unplanned closures disrupt learning, force districts to squeeze in make-up days, and can strain budgets. They also hurt working parents and communities.

An article by Undaunted K-12 tracks closures by weather type across the U.S., helping districts understand where and why closures are growing. UndauntedK12

4. What Influences School Closure Decisions?

Administrative Safety Processes

Districts weigh factors like:

• Road and sidewalk conditions (ice, snow, windblown debris)

• Temperature extremes (too hot or too cold to be safe)

• Power or heating failures

• Air quality (wildfire smoke or chemical events)

• Anticipated storm timing and coverage

Superintendents, local officials, and often school boards make final decisions. They must balance student safety with preventing academic loss. AccuWeather

Regional Expectations & Preparedness

Ironically, places used to snow—like northern states—may delay or close less often because they are prepared. In contrast, southern or more temperate regions may cancel when extreme weather is rare but severe.

As The Atlantic’s 2016 report noted: in a decade, Louisville averaged fifty weather-related closures—even though Chicago, more accustomed to snow, had far fewer despite similar or worse weather. The Atlantic

5. State-by-State Patterns (Examples)

Region	Common Disruption Cause(s)	Example School Closure Patterns
Northeast / Great Lakes	Snow, ice, nor’easters	Frequent winter cancellations; some districts max out bad-weather days
Upper Midwest	Snow, freezing rain, extreme cold	Heavy winter，long cancellations—like in Benzie County, MI Benzie Record Patriot
Southeast / Gulf Coast	Hurricanes, flooding	Widespread closures during hurricane seasons (e.g., Gulf blizzard, 2025) Wikipedia
Southwest / Deep South	Extreme heat, occasional storms	Increasing heat-related delays, especially in districts lacking A/C Climate Action Campaign
West Coast / Mountain West	Wildfires, poor air quality	Growing “smoke days” during wildfire seasons Climate Action Campaign
Plains / Tornado Alley	Tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail	Sporadic closures due to short-notice severe weather
Mid-Atlantic	Mixed: snow, coastal storms, flooding	Varied closures depending on storm track and infrastructure capacity

6. Additional Drivers Beyond Weather

Weather isn’t the only reason for delays and closures—it just ranks near the top. Other causes include:

• Teacher strikes or labor disruptions

• Power outages unrelated to weather

• Health emergencies (e.g., pandemic-related shutdowns)

• Infrastructure failures (e.g., building issues)

• Security or safety threats

Still, weather remains the most frequent disruptor, especially in places facing multiple types of extreme conditions.

7. SEO & Tracking Keywords (for local or national focus)

To boost SEO visibility or gather data by region, focus on targetable keywords such as:

• “Which state has the most school closures?”

• “Most snow days by state”

• “Weather-related school delays in [State Name]”

• “Wildfire school closures California”

• “Heat-related school cancellations Arizona”

• “Hurricane school closures Florida”

• “School closure statistics U.S.”

You can also target region-specific queries: e.g., “Why does Michigan cancel school more than Texas?”, or “School delays in New England vs Midwest”.

8. Trends & Insights

1. Northeast & Upper Midwest: High frequency of winter weather delays; Yet more resilient infrastructure may limit frequency despite high snow.

2. Southeast & Gulf Coast: Concentrated closures tied to hurricane season; flooding and wind damage widely disruptive.

3. Southwest & Deep South: Rising heat-related cancellations in districts without air conditioning.

4. Western U.S.: Smoke and wildfire seasons increasingly force “do-not-send-children-to-school” advisories.

5. Tornado-prone Plains: Quick-onset storms cause timely, tactical closures—often reactive rather than preemptive.

6. Effect of Climate Change: More extreme heat, more severe storms, longer wildfire seasons—all portend higher rates of school closure.

7. Preparedness & Culture: Regions accustomed to weather events may delay/class cancel less (assuming preparedness), whereas rare but intense events in less-prepared areas can cause higher per-event disruption.

Conclusion

In the U.S., school delays and cancellations stem largely from regional weather vulnerabilities and local infrastructure readiness:

• Most frequent closures: Northeast, Upper Midwest (winter storms); Southeast / Gulf Coast (hurricanes); West (wildfires & smoke).

• Rising trends: Extreme heat in the South & Southwest; worsening wildfire seasons.

• Regional resilience matters: Familiarity with snow, storms, or heat can reduce disruption frequency despite extreme conditions.

• Climate change ensures that “weather day” disruption remains a significant operational challenge for school districts nationwide.

Which Parts of the U.S. Get the Most School Delays or Cancellations?

School delays and cancellations are a fact of life across the United States. From snow in the North to hurricanes in the South, extreme weather often forces districts to shut down. But some states face disruptions far more often than others. Below is a ranking of U.S. states based on the frequency and type of school closures, along with the main reasons why they happen.

State-by-State Ranking of School Delays and Cancellations

1. New York
Heavy snowfall, icy roads, and nor’easters cause frequent cancellations. Rural districts often close multiple times each winter.

2. Michigan
Lake-effect snow and extreme cold regularly push districts past their built-in snow days. Schools in northern Michigan see some of the highest closure rates.

3. Ohio
Snow, ice storms, and subzero cold snaps make Ohio one of the top states for winter weather school closures.

4. Pennsylvania
Snow, ice, and flooding are common culprits. Mountainous terrain and rural bus routes make closures more likely.

5. Minnesota
Extreme cold (sometimes below -30°F) and blizzards frequently cancel classes. The state is used to winter, but safety standards still force closures.

6. Wisconsin
Snowstorms and polar vortex events lead to multiple cancellations each year. Milwaukee and Madison often close schools due to road safety.

7. Illinois
Chicago schools close less often due to infrastructure, but downstate Illinois sees frequent snow and ice day cancellations.

8. Iowa
Snow, ice, and blizzards cause regular closures. Districts in rural areas may close sooner because of dangerous bus routes.

9. Massachusetts
Nor’easters can shut down entire metro areas, including Boston. Snow and coastal flooding are main factors.

10. New Jersey
Snow, ice, and flooding lead to frequent closures, especially in South Jersey where infrastructure is more limited.

11. Vermont
Heavy snow and freezing rain cause regular winter closures. Rural communities often get hit hardest.

12. Maine
Snow and icy roads regularly force schools to cancel, even though residents are well adapted to winter conditions.

13. New Hampshire
Frequent snowstorms and icy roadways lead to multiple closures each year.

14. Connecticut
Snow and ice storms cause winter closures, especially in suburban and rural areas.

15. Colorado
Snowstorms and blizzards frequently shut schools in Denver and the mountains. High winds and avalanches also add risks.

16. Kentucky
Snow and ice cause more disruptions here than in snowier northern states, mainly because Kentucky lacks snow-removal infrastructure.

17. West Virginia
Mountainous terrain plus snow and flooding often close schools. Some rural districts log among the highest closure totals.

18. Indiana
Snow, ice, and freezing rain are the main factors. Indianapolis sees several cancellations each winter.

19. Missouri
Ice storms and snow regularly close schools. Tornadoes can also disrupt the school calendar.

20. North Carolina
Snow shuts schools more often than in northern states because the region is less prepared. Hurricanes and flooding also play a role.

21. Virginia
Snow, ice, and hurricanes lead to a mix of closures. Rural Appalachia and coastal regions see the most.

22. Tennessee
Snow and ice create disproportionate closures because of hilly terrain and lack of plowing resources.

23. Maryland
Snow and coastal storms close schools regularly, especially in suburban areas.

24. Washington
Snow in Seattle can paralyze transportation. Wildfires and smoke increasingly cause closures in eastern Washington.

25. Oregon
Snow in Portland and wildfire smoke in summer/fall lead to school disruptions.

26. California
Wildfires and smoke are the biggest causes of school closures, especially in Northern California. Some mountain areas close for snow.

27. Texas
Ice storms and hurricanes cause widespread closures. Extreme heat is becoming a growing factor.

28. Louisiana
Hurricanes, flooding, and extreme heat regularly shut schools across the state.

29. Florida
Hurricanes cause large-scale closures statewide. Flooding and storm surges are recurring risks.

30. Alabama
Snow is rare but disruptive. Hurricanes and tornadoes also cause closures.

31. Georgia
Snow and ice shut schools occasionally in Atlanta, but hurricanes and tropical storms affect the coast more often.

32. South Carolina
Hurricanes and flooding drive closures. Ice storms occasionally hit inland areas.

33. Oklahoma
Ice storms and tornadoes cause sporadic closures. Severe thunderstorms with hail also contribute.

34. Arkansas
Snow, ice, and tornadoes are the main causes of cancellations.

35. Kansas
Blizzards and ice storms close schools in rural districts. Tornadoes are another risk.

36. Nebraska
Snow, blizzards, and extreme cold lead to closures in both rural and urban districts.

37. Montana
Snow and extreme cold cancel classes, especially in smaller rural schools.

38. North Dakota
Blizzards and cold snaps routinely shut schools for safety.

39. South Dakota
Similar to North Dakota, winter weather is the main driver of closures.

40. Alaska
Despite harsh winters, schools rarely close except for blizzards and extreme cold. Communities are generally prepared.

41. Arizona
Extreme heat is the top cause of school delays. Monsoon flooding also contributes.

42. Nevada
Heat waves and flooding cause occasional closures, especially in Las Vegas and Reno.

43. New Mexico
Snow in the north and extreme heat in the south both contribute to occasional cancellations.

44. Hawaii
Hurricanes and flooding occasionally shut down schools, but closures are less frequent compared to mainland states.

45. Delaware
Snow and coastal flooding occasionally close schools, but at lower rates than neighboring states.

46. Rhode Island
Snowstorms cause closures, though the small geographic size helps districts respond quickly.

47. Idaho
Snow, avalanches, and flooding occasionally cancel classes, mostly in mountain towns.

48. Wyoming
Snow and high winds lead to occasional closures, but the state is less populated, so numbers are small.

49. Mississippi
Hurricanes and flooding occasionally shut down schools. Snow and ice are rare but very disruptive when they occur.

50. Washington, D.C.
Snow and ice close schools multiple times per year, despite smaller snowfall totals, because infrastructure is less prepared.