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Snow Day Calculator UK

Free UK snow day calculator. Predict if your school will close due to snow based on weather, location and conditions. Fun tool for students and parents.

Last updated: February 2026

Snow Day Calculator

Predict the chance of your UK school closing due to snow! Fun for students and parents.

Full Snow Day Prediction

0 cm 15 cm 30+ cm
-10°C 0°C 5°C

Quick Snow Day Check

Answer 3 quick questions for a fast prediction:

Regional Snow Day Guide

Snow day likelihood varies significantly across the UK:

󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland

Highest closure rates. Schools well-prepared but harsh conditions common. Highlands particularly affected.

High likelihood

󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 North England

Yorkshire, Pennines, and North East see regular snow. Mixed urban/rural closure patterns.

Medium-High

󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales

Valleys and hills prone to closures. Welsh valleys can become isolated quickly in heavy snow.

Medium

Midlands

Variable conditions. Birmingham rarely closes, but rural Shropshire/Staffordshire sees more closures.

Medium

South West

Less prepared for snow. Devon, Cornwall can be disrupted by even light snow due to hilly terrain.

Medium (when it snows)

South East & London

Lower closure rates. Good infrastructure but less prepared. When closures happen, it's often chaos!

Lower likelihood

UK Snow Day Statistics

  • Average UK school loses 1-2 days per year to snow
  • Scotland averages 3-5 snow days per academic year
  • London averages less than 0.5 snow days per year
  • Rural schools are 3x more likely to close than urban
  • Primary schools close more often than secondary schools

What to Do on a Snow Day

  • Check official channels - School website, parent apps, local radio by 7am
  • Don't assume closure - Always check officially before staying home
  • Keep learning - Many schools set online work during closures
  • Stay safe outside - Dress warmly, watch for ice, tell someone where you're going
  • Help neighbours - Check on elderly people during cold snaps
  • Exam students - Schools try to stay open for GCSEs/A-Levels - attempt to attend safely
  • Working parents - Have a backup childcare plan for unexpected closures

Snow Day Myths Debunked

  • "Any snow means a day off" - Most UK schools stay open with light snow
  • "The council decides" - Headteachers make independent decisions for each school
  • "Put a spoon under your pillow" - Sorry, this doesn't work!
  • "Snow days are fun for teachers too" - Teachers often work from home setting work
  • "School won't close if I've done my homework" - Weather doesn't care about homework!
  • "Radio announcements happen at midnight" - Most decisions made 6-7am after assessing conditions

How UK Schools Decide to Close

Headteachers typically consider:

Can staff get to school safely? (Often the deciding factor)
Are roads and paths around school passable?
Is the heating working? (Frozen pipes are common)
Can school buses and public transport run?
Is the playground/site safe for children?
What's the weather forecast for the day?
Are there Met Office warnings in place?
What are neighbouring schools doing?

The decision is typically made between 6am and 7am after the headteacher assesses current conditions and forecasts. Schools aim to notify parents by 7:30am at the latest. Some schools use a "late start" option to allow roads to be gritted before pupils arrive.

Your Rights When Schools Close for Snow

Snow day closures create practical challenges for working parents across the UK. Understanding your employment rights and the school's obligations can help you navigate these situations more effectively.

Employment Rights for Parents

Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, all UK employees have a statutory right to take reasonable time off work to deal with unexpected disruptions to childcare arrangements, including school closures due to snow. This is known as "time off for dependants" and applies from day one of employment, with no minimum service requirement. However, this leave is unpaid unless your employer's policy states otherwise. You must inform your employer as soon as reasonably practicable, and the leave should only last as long as necessary to make alternative arrangements, not for the entire duration of the closure.

What Schools Must Provide During Closures

Since the widespread adoption of remote learning technology during 2020 and 2021, many UK schools now have contingency plans for snow days that include setting work online through platforms like Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, or Seesaw. The Department for Education expects schools to minimise lost learning during closures. Some academy trusts and local authorities require schools to switch to remote provision if a closure lasts more than one day. Parents should check their school's Severe Weather Policy, which is typically available on the school website.

Met Office Weather Warnings Explained

The Met Office issues colour-coded weather warnings that directly influence school closure decisions. A Yellow warning means "be aware" and rarely causes school closures on its own. An Amber warning means "be prepared" for potential travel disruption and is the threshold at which many schools begin considering closure, particularly in rural areas. A Red warning means "take action" and indicates extreme conditions where travel is dangerous; schools almost always close under red warnings. You can sign up for free Met Office weather alerts at metoffice.gov.uk to receive warnings directly to your phone or email, giving you advance notice of potential snow days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the snow day calculator? +
Our snow day calculator uses multiple factors including temperature, snowfall, school location, and regional patterns to provide predictions. While not 100% accurate (no calculator can predict headteacher decisions!), it gives a good estimate of school closure likelihood based on typical patterns across the UK.
When do UK schools close for snow? +
UK schools typically consider closing when there's significant snowfall (5cm+), icy roads, frozen pipes, heating failures, or when a large proportion of staff cannot safely travel to work. Each school makes its own decision based on local conditions.
Who decides if a school closes for snow? +
The headteacher makes the final decision about school closure. They assess road conditions, staff availability, building safety, and weather forecasts. Local authority schools may coordinate with the council, while academies make independent decisions.
How do I find out if my school is closed? +
Check your school's website, parent communication apps (ClassDojo, ParentMail, Arbor), local radio stations (BBC local radio often announces closures), your council website's school closures page, or social media. Most schools aim to announce by 7am on snow days.
Do schools close for ice as well as snow? +
Yes, schools can close for ice. Black ice and frozen conditions can be more dangerous than snow as they're harder to see. Icy playgrounds, pathways, and roads are serious safety concerns that may lead to closures even without visible snow.
What happens to exams on snow days? +
Schools make every effort to remain open for GCSE and A-Level exams. If closure is unavoidable, exam boards have contingency days built into the timetable. Students should always attempt to attend exam days safely if at all possible.
Are private schools more likely to close? +
Private schools often have students and staff travelling greater distances, which can make them more likely to close. However, they may also have better gritting services and facilities. Boarding schools rarely close as students are already on site.
Does putting a spoon under your pillow cause snow days? +
We hate to break it to you, but no! The "spoon under the pillow" and "wearing pyjamas inside-out" traditions are fun superstitions but have no effect on the weather. Nice try though!

Useful Resources

Met Office Warnings

Official UK weather warnings for snow, ice and severe weather

BBC Weather

Local forecasts and school closure announcements via BBC local radio

School Term Dates

Official UK school term and holiday dates from GOV.UK

About the Snow Day Calculator

Our Snow Day Calculator is a fun tool for UK students, parents and teachers to estimate the likelihood of school closures during winter weather. While no calculator can predict exactly what your headteacher will decide, we use real factors that influence closure decisions: snowfall amount, temperature, location type, weather warnings, and regional patterns.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for entertainment purposes. Always check official school communications for actual closure announcements. Schools make their own decisions based on local conditions, staff safety, and building access.

UK-specific: Our predictions are calibrated for UK schools, considering factors like gritting services, public transport reliance, and the general UK approach to snow (which, let's face it, can be somewhat... dramatic! ).

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