Many school districts across the United States are shuttering classrooms on December 11 as winter storms unleash significant weather impacts, particularly affecting the Midwest and Eastern regions.
The winter storms currently affecting these areas have led to extensive school closures this week, hampering educational activities and daily life for families in multiple states. The hazardous road conditions due to snow accumulation and bitterly cold temperatures have been a major concern for authorities.
Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center, emphasized the severity of the situation, noting substantial snowfall around the Great Lakes. “Portions of Virginia and West Virginia have already reached their annual snowfall totals or are very close,” he mentioned in a statement to Newsweek.
A wide variety of Virginia and Michigan schools have announced closures. In Virginia, Grayson County Public Schools are among those affected. Meanwhile, Michigan has seen numerous closures including Our Lady of Sorrows in the Archdiocese of Detroit, the Pontiac School District, and several others across different counties.
The weather disturbances are not isolated to these two states; numerous states from Indiana to Maine are under winter weather advisories and warnings. Additional states currently facing alerts include Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa, according to the NWS.
In a message shared by NWS Blacksburg on social media, they warned about strong wind gusts reaching 35-50 MPH, which could lead to blowing snow and reduce visibility significantly. They advised extreme caution for anyone traveling on the roads during this time.
As the storms are expected to continue into Thursday and through the weekend, with forecasts predicting additional snow into Friday, public safety officials and school administrators are closely monitoring the conditions. They are preparing to adjust school schedules as needed to ensure the safety of students and staff. Parents and guardians are urged to stay updated through district websites and local news outlets for the latest information regarding school closures and weather advisories.