UPDATE: As of Sunday at 3pm, ET, New York City Schools will have a remote learning day and no in-person instruction, according to the mayor. For those in high school and middle school grades 6-8 who previously scheduled a professional learning day will have the day off.
Before you mentally commit to math class and those Monday morning blues, you might want to check the forecast. NYC is currently on blizzard watch, with reports of a foot of of snow gearing up to pummel the city. For over 900,000 students, it could mean the most coveted phrase in a student’s vocabulary: SNOW DAY.
Nothing has been officially called just yet, but let’s just say backpacks are on standby while parents and students alike refresh their weather apps. Here’s everything we know about the potential for school closures this Monday, January 26.
The Forecast: A Major Snowmaker
Meteorologists are making good on their forecast that this winter would be NYC’s snowiest in five years.
We’ve already seen multiple days of flurries blanketing the city in white along with temperatures colder than Anchorage, Alaska, and the National Weather Service is now warning of a low-pressure system bringing significant accumulation and dangerous arctic temperatures to the five boroughs.
- 🗓️ Timeline: snow is expected to start late Saturday night (January 24) and peak through Sunday, January 25
- ❄️ Probability: the NWS currently places the probability for “warning level” snowfall (6″+) at over 85%
- 🥶 Conditions: highs on Sunday will struggle to reach 19°F, meaning any snow that falls will stick immediately, making sidewalks and streets “snow-packed and slippery,” according to AccuWeather
Will Schools Be Closed on Monday?
The big question is whether the snow will linger long enough to impact the commute on Monday, January 26.
When asked by PIX11 Morning News if schools would be open, Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels didn’t give a definitive answer: “It’s early, let’s see where we go.” While it’s not the immediate “yes” students are hoping for, it’s certainly not a “no.”
Still, if students do wake up to the words “snow day,” they’re not entirely off the hook.
School officials shifted towards remote learning in 2022 during the COVID-119 pandemic, and Samuels notes that if school doors do remain locked, remote lessons will very much be in session to meet the NYS requirement of 180 instructional days.
Some Students Are Already Off
Regardless of the weather, many students already have Monday, January 26, marked on their calendars. It is a Professional Development Day for:
- High School students
- Students in 6-12 schools
These students were already scheduled to be off. However, for elementary and middle schoolers, the weather will determine if they’re heading to the classroom or logging onto Zoom from under a blanket.
Looking Ahead
If we don’t get a “real” day off this time, don’t worry–the next break is just around the corner. NYC public schools will be closed from February 16 through February 20, 2026 for midwinter recess.
Looking for ideas on how to spend those days off? These are the 15 best things to do with kids in NYC–from overnight museum visits and decadent desserts, to slimy fun, and more.
As for now, sleep with that spoon under your pillow and make sure you check for school announcements before packing your lunch on Monday!