Washington, DC Snow Day Predictor: Will DC Schools Close Tomorrow?

The Washington area gets far less snow than the Northeast, so even an inch or two can close or delay schools across DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

DC Public Schools and the big suburban districts (Fairfax, Montgomery, Prince George's, Arlington) each make their own call, and they often differ, especially when the rain–snow line falls between the city and the western suburbs.

Washington, DC snow day chances

Washington, DC

Friday

Unlikely

<1%

chance of a snow day

<1% chance of a delay

Monday

Unlikely

<1%

chance of a snow day

<1% chance of a delay

  • No meaningful snow or ice in the forecast for Friday morning.
  • Washington usually needs about 2" to close schools (normal snowfall 11" a year).

Did your school decide for Friday? Tap to report:

Estimate, not official. Check your school district for the final decision.

Updated . Not in Washington, DC? Enter your own ZIP code above.

How much snow closes school in Washington, DC?

Washington, DC gets about 11" of snow in a normal year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, averaged from 6 nearby stations including National Arboretum DC, Washington Reagan Airport, Dalecarlia Rsvr). Based on that, our model treats about 2" of overnight snow as the point where a closure becomes a coin flip. Less than half of that rarely closes schools here; one and a half times that usually does.

Washington, DC's closing point, about 2", is higher than 1 of the 7 other places here. Places that rarely see snow close for far less.
AtlantaAtlanta: about 1"1"Washington, DCWashington, DC: about 2"2"AlexandriaAlexandria: about 2.5"2.5"College ParkCollege Park: about 2.5"2.5"BowieBowie: about 2.5"2.5"RockvilleRockville: about 3"3"ChicagoChicago: about 5"5"BuffaloBuffalo: about 8"8"

Washington, DCOther placesModel estimate from NOAA normal snowfall

See how much snow closes school in every state.

Washington, DC average snowfall by month

Washington, DC averages about 11" of snow from October to April (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Jan is the snowiest month, with about 4.6".
0"2.5"5"OctNovDecJanFebMarAprOct: about 0"Nov: about 0"Dec: about 1.4"Jan: about 4.6"Feb: about 3.3"Mar: about 1.6"Apr: about 0"4.6"

Winter weather alerts and forecaster notes for Washington, DC

No winter storm, ice or cold alerts from the National Weather Service are in effect for Washington, DC right now.

NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC · Key Messages

  • 1) First snowfall for parts of the Alleghenies with spotty showers & brisk conditions elsewhere through Saturday.
  • 2) Cooler temperatures and dry conditions expected through mid week.

Excerpt from the National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC Area Forecast Discussion, issued Nov 12, 2:29 PM EST. Read the full discussion.

Washington, DC 7-day snow forecast

No snow in the 7-day forecast for Washington, DC right now.

Washington, DC's biggest snow days last winter (2025–26)

Snow fell on 9 days at NOAA's Washington Reagan National Airport station in the 2025–26 winter (10.6" in all). 1 day had 2" or more, about what it takes to close schools in Washington, DC; the biggest was Jan 25, 2026 with 6.9".
0"4"8"OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayDec 5: 1.1"Dec 14: 0.4"Jan 17: 0.1"Jan 25: 6.9"Feb 6: 0.1"Feb 22: 0.9"Feb 23: 0.1"Mar 2: 0.8"Mar 12: 0.2"closes at about 2"

Daily snowfall2" or moreSource: NOAA GHCN-Daily

In the 2025–26 winter, NOAA's Washington Reagan National Airport station (7 km from Washington, DC) recorded10.6" of snow. Its biggest single-day totals:

DateSnowfall
Sun, Jan 25, 20266.9"
Fri, Dec 5, 20251.1"
Sun, Feb 22, 20260.9"
Mon, Mar 2, 20260.8"
Sun, Dec 14, 20250.4"

Source: NOAA GHCN-Daily, station USW00013743.

DC school districts: where closings are announced

These districts make the official call for schools around Washington, DC. Their websites post closings and delays first:

Snow day chances near Washington, DC

PlaceDistanceFridayUsually closes at
Alexandria, VA7 mi<1%2.5"
College Park, MD8 mi<1%2.5"
Rockville, MD14 mi<1%3"
Bowie, MD15 mi<1%2.5"
Fairfax, VA16 mi<1%3"
Laurel, MD16 mi<1%3"
Gaithersburg, MD19 mi<1%4"
Herndon, VA20 mi<1%3"

Snow day pages for other cities

Washington, DC snow day FAQ

Will DC schools close tomorrow?

Our current estimate for Washington, DC is <1% for a snow day and <1% for a delay on Friday, and <1% for a snow day on Monday. No meaningful snow or ice in the forecast for Friday morning. This is an estimate, not an announcement: check your district for the official decision.

How much snow does it take to close schools in Washington, DC?

Based on Washington, DC's normal snowfall of about 11 inches a year, our model puts the closing point at about 2" of snow falling overnight. Ice, heavy wet snow, timing during the morning commute and active winter storm warnings can lower that.

How much snow did Washington, DC get last winter?

NOAA's Washington Reagan National Airport station recorded 10.6 inches in the 2025–26 winter. The biggest single day was Jan 25, 2026 with 6.9 inches.

Where do DC schools announce snow days?

Each district posts closings and delays on its own website and alert system: DC Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools. Local TV stations also carry closing lists.