The short answer
In New York, the calculator treats your area as regular-snow (New York City (Central Park) averages 29.8 inches a year), so closure odds reach about 50% at 6 inches of overnight snow — less with ice, extreme cold or snow falling between midnight and 6 a.m. It is an estimate, not an announcement from your district.
The calculator above is preset for New York. New York City (Central Park) averages 29.8 inches of snow a year (1991–2020 normals), which puts New York in our regular-snow group. For a public school in an average suburban district, the model needs about 6 inches of overnight snow before the chance of a closure reaches 50%. Enter your ZIP code to load the National Weather Service forecast, or change the snow tolerance if your town gets much more or less snow than New York City (Central Park).
New York snow day facts at a glance
| Item | New York |
|---|---|
| Snow tolerance in the calculator | Regular (50% point: 6 in overnight) |
| Average yearly snowfall, New York City (Central Park) | 29.8 in |
| Remote learning days for weather | Allowed |
| Remote-day limit | No cap stated |
| Minimum school year (days) | 180 |
| Minimum instructional hours | Half-day K: 450 h; Full-day K-6: 900 h; 7-12: 990 h |
| Cold point used by the model | -25°F wind chill |
How much snow closes school in New York? (model estimate)
Computed with the calculator’s formula for a regular-snow area: public school, average district, no ice, no extreme cold, no timing boost.
| Overnight snow | Chance closed | Chance of a delay |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 3% | 22% |
| 3 in | 10% | 44% |
| 4 in | 21% | 51% |
| 6 in | 50% | 39% |
| 8 in | 72% | 23% |
| 10 in | 84% | 13% |
| 12 in | 90% | 8% |
Ice changes the picture quickly: in the model, 0.1 inch of freezing rain alone gives about 37% closure odds here, and 0.25 inch about 90%. A morning wind chill of -25°F gives 50% from cold alone. Heavy snow between midnight and 6 a.m. counts 25% more, because it is still falling when districts decide around 4–6 a.m.
Reported thresholds and cold-day policies in New York
These come from our snow day thresholds dataset. Most are news reports, so they describe policy as reported at the time, not necessarily today.
- New York City Public Schools — Snow: Mayor cited 6 inches as a general threshold for closing buildings; closures go remote (no traditional snow day). (news; source; ABC7 2026-01-23; remote policy since 2020 per Chalkbeat 2026-01-21)
- Minnesota and upstate New York — Snow: Thresholds similar to Chicago’s (very high). (news; source; CBS Chicago 2014 summarizing crowdsourced map)
Remote learning days in New York
Allowed. 8 NYCRR 175.5(e): a district that would otherwise close for an emergency (incl. severe weather) may stay in session with remote instruction that counts toward annual hours; superintendent certifies; must follow district emergency remote instruction plan (from 2023-24). No cap stated. Amended eff. Sept 28, 2022. The statute as we read it sets no fixed number of days. (statute) Because individual districts decide whether to use remote days, the calculator asks whether yours usually goes remote and splits the closure chance into a day off and a remote day.
Minimum school year in New York
The Education Commission of the States’ 2023 comparison lists these minimums for New York (they may not reflect later legislation):
- Days: 180
- Instructional hours: Half-day K: 450 h; Full-day K-6: 900 h; 7-12: 990 h
Days lost to closures count against that minimum, which is why districts that use up their snow days typically add make-up days at the end of the year — and why remote-day rules matter.
Where to check official closures
Only your district can close school. Check its website, app or text and email alerts first. We don’t list district links for New York because we haven’t verified them; this page and its calculator are an estimate, not an announcement.
Frequently asked questions
How much snow does it take to close school in New York?
Can New York schools use remote learning instead of a snow day?
How many school days are required in New York?
Sources & method
- Snowfall normal for New York City (Central Park): climate table (1991–2020 normals, NOAA-sourced).
- New York City Public Schools: news report.
- Minnesota and upstate New York: news report.
- Remote-day rule for New York: official statute or regulation text.
- Instructional time: ECS 50-State Comparison, Instructional Time Policies (2023).
- Make-up days: Stacker via KVIA (2024).
- Model: our own estimate; method on the main snow day calculator page.
Data checked October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us via the about page.
← Snow day calculator for any US ZIP code · How much snow does it take to close school? · New York school facts