Ontario Snow Day Predictor
Real-time school closure predictions for 14 cities across Ontario.
Ontario Winter Weather Overview
Ontario experiences a Great Lakes climate where lake-effect snow off Lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario produces heavy localized snowfall. Across the province, the average annual snowfall is approximately 150 centimetres, with peak snow season typically running from December through March. Conditions can vary widely from one community to the next, but freezing rain, heavy snow, blowing snow, and extreme wind chill are all common reasons school boards in Ontario cancel classes or buses. Most boards in Ontario report cancelling classes an average of approximately 6 times per winter season.
How Ontario Schools Handle Snow Days
School boards across Ontario make their own cancellation decisions, typically before 6:00 AM on storm days, after consulting with bus operators, road authorities, and Environment Canada forecasts. In Ontario it is common for bus cancellations to be announced separately from in-person school closures — meaning schools may stay open while buses are cancelled, especially in rural areas. Boards communicate decisions through their official websites, social media, automated phone calls, and local radio and television stations.
Browse Ontario Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out if Ontario schools are closed?
Each school board in Ontario posts cancellation notices on its own website and social media accounts, and most also notify local radio and TV stations. Bus cancellations are often announced separately from school closures.
Do Ontario schools close just because buses are cancelled?
Not always. In many parts of Ontario, buses can be cancelled while schools remain open for students who can get there safely. Always check both the bus status and the school status on your board's website.
How accurate are snow day predictions for Ontario?
Our predictor uses live Open-Meteo forecast data — snowfall, temperature, wind chill, and precipitation — to estimate closure probability for any city in Ontario. It is a forecast tool, not an official source; final decisions are made by individual school boards.
← Back to the main Snow Day Predictor.