Fort Smith, ARK — As winter weather makes its return to Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, students and teachers alike may find themselves wondering if they will be spending the day in class or at home. For those seeking an answer, there’s a website that can help: the Snow Day Calculator.
Launched nearly two decades ago, the Snow Day Calculator has grown from a middle school project into a nationwide phenomenon, attracting over five million users annually. The tool, which requires only a ZIP code to generate a prediction, has become a go-to resource for anyone hoping to learn if they might get a snow day.
The Snow Day Calculator was created by David Sukhin in 2007 while he was still a student. What started as a project for his middle school science class has since evolved into a sophisticated tool that uses data from the National Weather Service. By analyzing key factors such as storm timing, wind conditions, temperature, and ice forecasts, the calculator is able to provide a prediction for whether schools or businesses in a given area will close due to adverse weather.
In addition to real-time weather data, the Snow Day Calculator also takes into account historical closure patterns for specific schools and regions. This data-driven approach helps improve the accuracy of its predictions, although, as with all forecasts, it cannot guarantee a snow day.
The final decision on whether to close a school or business rests with local authorities. The Snow Day Calculator merely provides an estimate, helping students and teachers alike plan ahead in case of a weather-related closure.
As winter storms continue to impact the region, the Snow Day Calculator remains a popular tool for those eager to know if they’ll be staying home on a snowy day. While its predictions can’t replace official announcements, it offers a helpful preview, easing the uncertainty of winter weather closures.