How cold does it have to be for a school to close in GA? How districts determine closures
Get ready, Georgia. It’s almost time to face the freeze. Bitterly cold temperatures and a potential for ice or snow are in the forecast.
But with all the cold weather coming, what is there to know about school closures? When do schools make the decision to close and who makes that decision?
Here’s what to know:
Do schools in Georgia close due to cold temperatures?
Well, not necessarily, but it should be taken into consideration. Although there is no set temperature in place mandating a school closure, school officials look at a number of other factors when making the decision to close. Here’s what factors take part in the decision to close schools:
Wind chill
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), wind chill conditions should be one of the main factors in determining when to close schools.
“Dangerous wind chills can be hazardous to children waiting outside for the bus, or students traveling by car that may get stranded. Wind chill considers both wind speed and air temperature to better approximate how quickly the body loses heat,” said NWS experts.
Road conditions
Buses play a huge part in school closures because extreme temperatures can hinder the safety of students, bus drivers and others on the road.
“Some of the factors that would be taken into consideration, especially with school buses, would include predicted wind gusts/wind speed and sleet/snow/ice accumulation on the roads,” said Bibb County School District chief communications officer Stephanie Hartley in Macon, Georgia.
Power outages
Hartley said electrical power supply to school buildings would be another reason for closures because extremely cold temperatures can knock out power and leave classrooms without electricity and heat.
So, who makes the decision to close schools in Georgia?
Overall, the decision to close schools due to cold weather is at a local level in Georgia, as each district makes its own informed decision.
“When we review any potential inclement weather, we work closely with the Macon-Bibb Emergency Management Agency (EMA), as well as the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, to get the most updated forecast information for our community,” said Hartley.
Do you have any questions about the weather or school closures? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM with the headline "How cold does it have to be for a school to close in GA? How districts determine closures."
