Snow Day Calculator for Illinois

Use this Illinois snow day calculator to see how likely schools are to close when winter weather moves in. Enter your ZIP code and get an estimate based on snowfall, temperature, ice risk, and local road conditions.

Check Your Snow Day Chance in Illinois

Use the tool below to check if your school in Illinois might close because of snow, ice, or dangerous winter road conditions.

Will Schools Close in Illinois Due to Snow?

Illinois school districts do not follow one fixed rule for snow days. Each district looks at how safe it is for buses, cars, and walkers to travel in the early morning. Your snow day estimate for Illinois considers:

• Expected snowfall overnight and around the start of school
• Ice, freezing rain, and refreeze risk on main and side streets
• Wind, visibility, and drifting snow in open and rural areas
• Conditions on highways, bridges, and neighborhood roads
• Past closure patterns in northern, central, and southern Illinois

Conditions can look very different across Illinois on the same day. A live prediction is more useful than a simple inch count when you want to know if school might close.

Typical Snow Day Thresholds in Illinois

Every district in Illinois chooses its own guidelines, but many schools begin to consider closing when:

• Snowfall is heading toward 4–8 inches by the school start time
• Roads are unplowed, icy, or too slick for buses and cars
• Heavy snow or mixed winter precipitation hits during commute hours
• Visibility drops along major routes, highways, and rural roads
• Wind chills reach levels that are unsafe for students outside

Northern Illinois may see more snow and stay open during some storms, while districts closer to central and southern Illinois may close more often for ice, slush, and traffic impacts.

Snow Day Patterns Across Illinois

Snow day chances vary across Illinois because weather, traffic, and road networks change from region to region.

• Chicago and the suburbs: These districts handle frequent winter storms but may close when heavy snow, strong wind, or bitter wind chills affect major roads and public transit.
• Northern Illinois: Areas near the Wisconsin border often see higher totals and drifting. Rural roads and open fields can become dangerous during strong storms.
• Central Illinois (e.g., Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield): This region often deals with mixed storms that bring snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Ice and refreeze on rural roads are a major concern.
• Southern Illinois: Snow totals are usually lower, but districts may still close for ice, freezing rain, and slushy roads when temperatures hover around freezing.

Your Illinois snow day estimate uses live weather data for your ZIP code instead of a single rule for the whole state.

Cities in Illinois

Some of the major cities and areas in Illinois include:

• Chicago, IL – 60601
• Aurora, IL – 60505
• Naperville, IL – 60540
• Joliet, IL – 60432
• Rockford, IL – 61101
• Springfield, IL – 62701
• Peoria, IL – 61602
• Elgin, IL – 60120
• Waukegan, IL – 60085
• Cicero, IL – 60804
• Champaign, IL – 61820
• Bloomington, IL – 61701
• Decatur, IL – 62521
• Evanston, IL – 60201
• Arlington Heights, IL – 60004

How Illinois Schools Decide on Snow Closures

Illinois superintendents and transportation staff usually begin checking conditions very early in the morning. A typical decision process includes:

1. Driving key bus routes to check snow depth, ice, and drifting.
2. Talking with city, county, and state road crews about plowing and salting.
3. Reviewing updated forecasts, radar, and any winter weather alerts.
4. Looking at when the heaviest snow, sleet, or freezing rain will affect travel.
5. Deciding whether to open, delay, switch to remote learning, or close for the day.

Most Illinois districts try to announce closures or delays between 5:00 AM and 6:30 AM so families and staff can adjust their plans.

Illinois Snow Day FAQs

Which parts of Illinois get the most snow days?

Northern Illinois and some Chicago-area suburbs can see more snow days, especially when strong storms, drifting, and low wind chills combine.

Do Chicago schools close often for snow?

Chicago schools do close for winter storms, but decisions depend on snow totals, wind, public transit impact, and extreme wind chills.

How does this Illinois snow day calculator estimate chances?

The calculator uses live weather data, including predicted snowfall, temperature, wind, and freeze risk, to estimate how likely a snow day is for your ZIP code.

What time do Illinois schools usually announce snow days?

Most districts aim to announce closures, delays, or schedule changes before 6:30 AM so students, parents, and staff can plan their morning and travel.

Do all Illinois districts use the same rules for snow days?

No. Each district decides based on its own roads, bus routes, weather history, and community expectations. Urban, suburban, and rural areas may respond differently to the same storm.

This Illinois snow day calculator is designed to help you understand the chance of a snow day based on weather conditions. Final decisions about delays and closures are always made by your local school district.