Weather-related cancellation
Encyclopedia
A weather-related cancellation or delay is when an institution, operation, or event is closed, canceled, or delayed as a result of inclement weather
conditions. Certain institutions, such as school
s, are likely to close when bad weather, such as snow
, flood
ing, tropical cyclone
s or extreme heat or cold impairs travel conditions, causes power outage
s, or otherwise impedes public safety or makes opening the facility impossible or more difficult. Depending upon the local climate, the chances of a school or school system closing may vary. While some regions may close or delay schools when there is any question of safety, others located in areas where bad weather is a regular occurrence may remain open, as local people may be accustomed to travelling under such conditions.
Many countries and smaller jurisdictions have mandates for a minimum number of school days in a year. In order to meet these requirements, many public school systems and private schools that can expect to be closed sometimes during the year by inclement weather will often build a few extra days into their calendar for snow closures. If by the end of the year, these days are not used, some schools may give their students days off. If all snow days are exhausted, and inclement weather requires more closures, the days must be made up later in the year.
There are various reasons for weather-related cancellations:
or other problems that may result from travel in inclement weather.
During minor storms, when safety is believed to be of minimal concern if any at all, there may be few or no cancellations or delays. But in the most severe forms of inclement weather, only the most essential operations may remain functional.
Operations considered to be "essential" include health care
, emergency services, and retail
of basic necessities. In health care settings, if travel is impaired, employees may be required to remain at the facility around the clock. While tourist attraction
s will generally be closed, those housing live animals may require essential employees to report to work in order to assure animals receive proper care.
Television and radio services will generally remain in operation, and therefore travel as necessary to reach the locations, and elected officials will travel as necessary to provide their services to the public. Also those involved in the removal of snow will remain at work.
In deeper snowfalls, personal vehicles may become trapped, and their removal through shoveling may take up to several days. This may factor into a decision to keep closures in effect beyond the day of the snowfall.
The ability of employees of an operation to reach their places of employment is a factor in remaining open or deciding to close.
s or may prevent heat or air conditioning from working. Others may cause structural damage that may lead to the building needing long-term repair.
are cancelled or delayed by snow
, heavy ice, or extremely low temperatures. Similar measures may occur in response to flooding, a tornado watch
or the strong possibility of tornado
es/severe weather
during the school day, hurricanes, dense fog
, and other forms of inclement weather. The criterion for enacting a snow day is primarily inability of school bus
es to make their routes and the potential dangers posed to children venturing out in blizzard conditions should they have to walk to school. In many cases, the school officially remains open even though buses do not run and classes are canceled for lack of students. Schools and businesses may also be canceled for non weather-related reasons such as during a widespread pandemic
, power failure, terrorist attack, bomb threat
, or in honor of a well-known staff member such as a superintendent or teacher who has recently passed away. In some cases only one school or business in a town may be closed, possibly due to a water main break, or a lack of heat
or air-conditioning.
Inclement weather in some regions is more likely to result in a cancellation or delay than in others, based on the region's ability to handle the situation. Snow days are less common in more northern areas of the United States that are used to heavy winter snowfall, because municipalities are well equipped to handle road clearing and snow removal. In warmer areas of the country, such as Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis
, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and Baltimore
, snow days result from small snowfalls, many less than an inch or two, rendering roadways unsafe with snow and ice.
In some areas, a certain number of extra days are included in the school calendar as "built-in" snow days. Once the number of snow days taken exceeds the number of built-in days, the snow days must be made up. In other states, all snow days must be made up. For example, schools may extend the remaining school days later into the afternoon, shorten spring break
, or delay the start of summer vacation
. However some schools are more forgiving, and don't force any make up days.
under these circumstances. This is particularly common during light snowfalls of 2 inches or less in areas accustomed to moderate winter snowfall, such as the New York metropolitan area
and adjacent southern New England
.
In the event of fog, some schools may delay the opening of school three hours but extend the day an extra hour.
Some employers who use most essential types of employees, such as health care
facilities, have some or all of their employees stay and sleep on the premises while off duty if bad weather that hampers commute is anticipated. Many supermarket
s, convenience store
s, and gas stations will attempt to remain open if possible out of public need and the possibility of increased business in such an event. Businesses of lesser daily importance to the public, such as small clothing or antique shops, may close in moderate or severe weather.
In most severe storms, police and fire department
s will use specialized vehicles to improve their ability to respond to emergencies. Other workers involved in handling issues pertaining to the inclement weather, such as snow plow operators, will report to work, and reporters and local elected officials will be on duty in order to serve the public.
s, rail, bus
es and other transport operators may cancel or reduce services. Route impassability, airport closure, employees' safety and public safety may result in such action. However, some modes of transport are more prone to severe weather than others, and different forms of bad weather have different impacts.
In air travel, the decision is often based on the guidelines of the country's Civil Aviation Authority
, such as the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) in the United States
.
Even when the service does operate, unplanned delays are likely, as operators take extra precautions or passageways are congested. The level of service provided may be diminished after a lower demand for service, fewer operators being available, or fewer passable routes. Yet sometimes demand for public transport may increase as commuters choose to leave the arduous job of driving to carriers.
In particularly hot weather, rail vehicles may be delayed by the expansion of the steel tracks.
Public transport may continue to operate on main arteries, though they may still experience delays. Buses that operate on secondary roads, especially those that are narrow or difficult to negotiate, may either be completely cancelled or diverted to a main road.
Although bad weather has little effect on the underground subway system, electricity outage and flooding may disrupt services. For example, on August 8, 2007, following a tornado in Brooklyn, New York
, the New York Subway
flooded, thereby grounded all trains to a halt during rush hour. Burst demand may result from employers and schools clearing out in anticipation of a tropical cyclone as people turn to subway when other modes of transport are threatened.
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
conditions. Certain institutions, such as school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s, are likely to close when bad weather, such as snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
, flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
ing, tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s or extreme heat or cold impairs travel conditions, causes power outage
Power outage
A power outage is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network...
s, or otherwise impedes public safety or makes opening the facility impossible or more difficult. Depending upon the local climate, the chances of a school or school system closing may vary. While some regions may close or delay schools when there is any question of safety, others located in areas where bad weather is a regular occurrence may remain open, as local people may be accustomed to travelling under such conditions.
Many countries and smaller jurisdictions have mandates for a minimum number of school days in a year. In order to meet these requirements, many public school systems and private schools that can expect to be closed sometimes during the year by inclement weather will often build a few extra days into their calendar for snow closures. If by the end of the year, these days are not used, some schools may give their students days off. If all snow days are exhausted, and inclement weather requires more closures, the days must be made up later in the year.
Reasons
Road safety
Safety is of prime concern when a comes to deciding to make a cancellation or delay. School closings and other cancellations may occur in order to keep those traveling to the location of the roads in an effort to prevent accidentsCar accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
or other problems that may result from travel in inclement weather.
During minor storms, when safety is believed to be of minimal concern if any at all, there may be few or no cancellations or delays. But in the most severe forms of inclement weather, only the most essential operations may remain functional.
Operations considered to be "essential" include health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, emergency services, and retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
of basic necessities. In health care settings, if travel is impaired, employees may be required to remain at the facility around the clock. While tourist attraction
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
s will generally be closed, those housing live animals may require essential employees to report to work in order to assure animals receive proper care.
Television and radio services will generally remain in operation, and therefore travel as necessary to reach the locations, and elected officials will travel as necessary to provide their services to the public. Also those involved in the removal of snow will remain at work.
Passibility
Certain types of inclement weather may make passage on the roads impossible or difficult. In developed nations, municipalities will attempt to clear snow-covered roads to the best of their ability. But this is not always fully possible, and when such is the case, there is the recognition that not everyone will be able to travel.In deeper snowfalls, personal vehicles may become trapped, and their removal through shoveling may take up to several days. This may factor into a decision to keep closures in effect beyond the day of the snowfall.
The ability of employees of an operation to reach their places of employment is a factor in remaining open or deciding to close.
Structural issues
Certain weather conditions may render structures temporarily or permanently useless. Some form of inclement weather may cause power outagePower outage
A power outage is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network...
s or may prevent heat or air conditioning from working. Others may cause structural damage that may lead to the building needing long-term repair.
North America
A snow day in the United States and Canada is a day in which school classesLesson
A lesson is a structured period of time where learning is intended to occur. It involves one or more students being taught by a teacher or instructor...
are cancelled or delayed by snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
, heavy ice, or extremely low temperatures. Similar measures may occur in response to flooding, a tornado watch
Tornado watch
A tornado watch is issued when conditions are right for a tornado to form. Since any thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is defined as severe, a tornado watch is also automatically a severe thunderstorm watch...
or the strong possibility of tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es/severe weather
Severe weather
Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.- Examples Include :Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and , instability in the...
during the school day, hurricanes, dense fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
, and other forms of inclement weather. The criterion for enacting a snow day is primarily inability of school bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
es to make their routes and the potential dangers posed to children venturing out in blizzard conditions should they have to walk to school. In many cases, the school officially remains open even though buses do not run and classes are canceled for lack of students. Schools and businesses may also be canceled for non weather-related reasons such as during a widespread pandemic
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
, power failure, terrorist attack, bomb threat
Bomb threat
A bomb threat is generally defined as a threat, usually verbal or written, to detonate an explosive or incendiary device to cause property damage, death, or injuries, whether or not such a device actually exists...
, or in honor of a well-known staff member such as a superintendent or teacher who has recently passed away. In some cases only one school or business in a town may be closed, possibly due to a water main break, or a lack of heat
Heat
In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
or air-conditioning.
Inclement weather in some regions is more likely to result in a cancellation or delay than in others, based on the region's ability to handle the situation. Snow days are less common in more northern areas of the United States that are used to heavy winter snowfall, because municipalities are well equipped to handle road clearing and snow removal. In warmer areas of the country, such as Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, snow days result from small snowfalls, many less than an inch or two, rendering roadways unsafe with snow and ice.
In some areas, a certain number of extra days are included in the school calendar as "built-in" snow days. Once the number of snow days taken exceeds the number of built-in days, the snow days must be made up. In other states, all snow days must be made up. For example, schools may extend the remaining school days later into the afternoon, shorten spring break
Spring break
Spring break – also known as March break, Study week or Reading week in the United Kingdom and some parts of Canada – is a recess in early spring at universities and schools in the United States, Canada, mainland China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the United...
, or delay the start of summer vacation
Summer vacation
Summer vacation is a vacation in the summertime between school years in which students and instructors are off school typically between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the country and district.-Students:In some countries, students participate in programs such as organized sports, summer camps, and...
. However some schools are more forgiving, and don't force any make up days.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, snow days are a very common event, however secondary schools (high schools)are 95% of the time in progress despite the harsh weathers and danger risks.Delays
Instead of outright cancelling an entire school day, some schools may put off opening by, for example, one or two hours, or announce a particular opening time. This can be advantageous in some places where schools are not charged a "snow day" by delaying their opening. Many systems will totally cancel their morning kindergartenKindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
under these circumstances. This is particularly common during light snowfalls of 2 inches or less in areas accustomed to moderate winter snowfall, such as the New York metropolitan area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
and adjacent southern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
In the event of fog, some schools may delay the opening of school three hours but extend the day an extra hour.
Early dismissals
On some days, conditions may be adequate for school to open at the usual time, but deteriorate as the day progresses, such as with an incoming snowstorm that does not start until after the school day has begun. As a result, school districts or some other education authorities may close down their schools at an earlier time than normal. Schools might also close down early with water, heat, or power outages, or gas leaks.Workplaces
Workplaces are less likely to close during mildly inclement weather, but the more severe the storm, the more likely a workplace is to close.Some employers who use most essential types of employees, such as health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
facilities, have some or all of their employees stay and sleep on the premises while off duty if bad weather that hampers commute is anticipated. Many supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
s, and gas stations will attempt to remain open if possible out of public need and the possibility of increased business in such an event. Businesses of lesser daily importance to the public, such as small clothing or antique shops, may close in moderate or severe weather.
In most severe storms, police and fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
s will use specialized vehicles to improve their ability to respond to emergencies. Other workers involved in handling issues pertaining to the inclement weather, such as snow plow operators, will report to work, and reporters and local elected officials will be on duty in order to serve the public.
Transport
In severe weather, airlineAirline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
s, rail, bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es and other transport operators may cancel or reduce services. Route impassability, airport closure, employees' safety and public safety may result in such action. However, some modes of transport are more prone to severe weather than others, and different forms of bad weather have different impacts.
In air travel, the decision is often based on the guidelines of the country's Civil Aviation Authority
Civil Aviation Authority
This is a list of national and supra-national civil aviation authorities.-See also:* Air route authority between the United States and the People's Republic of China* National Transportation Safety Board -External links:****...
, such as the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Even when the service does operate, unplanned delays are likely, as operators take extra precautions or passageways are congested. The level of service provided may be diminished after a lower demand for service, fewer operators being available, or fewer passable routes. Yet sometimes demand for public transport may increase as commuters choose to leave the arduous job of driving to carriers.
In particularly hot weather, rail vehicles may be delayed by the expansion of the steel tracks.
Public transport may continue to operate on main arteries, though they may still experience delays. Buses that operate on secondary roads, especially those that are narrow or difficult to negotiate, may either be completely cancelled or diverted to a main road.
Although bad weather has little effect on the underground subway system, electricity outage and flooding may disrupt services. For example, on August 8, 2007, following a tornado in Brooklyn, New York
2007 Brooklyn tornado
The 2007 Brooklyn tornado was the strongest tornado on record to strike in New York City. It formed in the early morning hours of August 8, 2007, skipping along an approximately 9 mile long path, from Staten Island across the The Narrows to Brooklyn. The worst damage was in and around Sunset Park...
, the New York Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
flooded, thereby grounded all trains to a halt during rush hour. Burst demand may result from employers and schools clearing out in anticipation of a tropical cyclone as people turn to subway when other modes of transport are threatened.
External links
- cancellations.com. Can be used to find cancellations or delays in your area or if a particular institution has canceled its plans.
- schoolsout.com. Lists school closings in 18 U.S. states and the District of Columbia
- Article about Snow Day in Monmouth County, New Jersey
- Snowday.co.uk. Can be used to find out if schools or colleges are closed in bad weather. [UK only]
- http://david.sukhin.com/Weather/Snowday/Auto-Snowday.htm The Snow Day Calculator. Uses the zip code and other factors to calculate the probability of a snow day or delayed opening. [Manual storm data entry required for places outside the US]