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D.C. area school closings and federal government status for Jan. 19, 2024

Published on January 18, 2024

Many students and teachers in the Washington region have already enjoyed two snow days this week, plus a holiday. Another day off is on the way for some.

The week’s second round of snow is expected to sweep across the area Friday, starting before sunrise and coinciding with the morning commute. The snow, which could linger into the afternoon, will lower visibility and cause slick roads. The snow may not only delay or cancel school but also alter operations for federal workers.

As any delays and cancellations are announced, this article will be updated. Predictions made earlier in the afternoon for schools and the federal government are provided below them.

Announced school delays and closings

(last updated at 5:50 p.m.)

This storm won’t produce as much snow as the one which shut down most schools Tuesday, so predictions aren’t as clear-cut. Another wrinkle is that the snow won’t start until the pre-dawn hours, so some school systems may take a wait-and-see approach before making a call.

That said, many schools have erred on the side of caution in recent years and have made decisions to close or delay the afternoon or evening before to give parents more time to plan. This requires a degree of trust in the forecast and also being willing to accept the possibility that a storm fizzles out.

While confidence in this forecast isn’t the highest — because the D.C. area is near the southern margins of where accumulating snow is forecast — we think many school systems probably will decide to cancel, or at least announce delays Thursday evening and then reassess in the morning. But closings are far from guaranteed, so do your homework and lesson planning.

We’re pretty convinced the Office of Personnel Management will offer the unscheduled leave and telework options for federal workers. There’s an outside chance it will decide to close federal offices (for non-teleworkers), but we see a delayed opening as the more probable scenario. Road conditions may start to gradually improve by midmorning, although some bursts of snow can’t be ruled out even into the afternoon.

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