Massachusetts Snow Day Calculator: Chances & Closure Norms
What closes Massachusetts schools? Snowday's Massachusetts calculator usually flags a snow day at about 6 inches in Greater Boston and a bit more inland — ice storms and nor’easter wind often close schools at lower totals. Boston averages about 49 inches a year. Enter your ZIP above for tomorrow's chance.
Snow day calculator
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Result
Your forecast appears here. Enter a ZIP code or city above and press Calculate snow day chance.
Fun estimate only — always follow your school district’s official announcements.
How Massachusetts districts decide snow days
Greater Boston districts typically close at about 6 inches of snow, less when it falls as ice or during the commute window. Inland and western districts tolerate slightly more — Worcester’s hilltops and Berkshire valleys handle routine snowfall well until plowing falls behind.
State rules require 180 school days with no built-in forgiveness, which is why Massachusetts districts schedule the school year to end in late June: five snow days is the standard allowance, and heavy winters push graduation ceremonies later. When a nor’easter coincides with high tide and wind, coastal districts close for flooding even before snow totals accumulate.
Average snowfall in Massachusetts
| Place | Avg. snow per year |
|---|---|
| Boston | ≈ 49 in/yr |
| Worcester | ≈ 70 in/yr |
| The Berkshires | ≈ 70+ in/yr |
Averages are approximate NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 climate normals, rounded. Worcester’s ~70 inches make it one of the snowiest cities of its size in the country, boosted by elevation and northwest-flow snowbands.
The storm Massachusetts remembers
The record 2014–15 winter. Boston’s 2014–15 season totaled 110.6 inches — the snowiest winter in the city’s records — including a January blizzard that dropped about 24 inches in one day. Schools exhausted snow days citywide and stayed closed for over a week cumulative, ending the year among the latest on record.
Using the calculator in Massachusetts
Snowday weights Massachusetts with a 6-inch baseline, ice-friendly cold bonuses, and 1.5× commute-hour snow. Try the snow day calculator with ZIP 02108, and set the strictness slider for your district. For the full picture, open the snow day calculator and see how commute-hour snowfall, cold, and wind combine into tomorrow’s percent chance — free, instant, no sign-up.
Last updated: October 2026