5NEWS Latest School Closings and Delays

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When winter weather or severe storms hit Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, staying informed about school schedules is the top priority for parents and educators. 5NEWS (KFSM) provides the most comprehensive, real-time tracking for school closings and delays across the region.

Current School Closings and Delays Status

How to Stay Updated with 5NEWS

Superintendents from Fayetteville to Fort Smith coordinate directly with 5NEWS to ensure information is disseminated as fast as possible. Here is how you can find the latest updates:

The 5NEWS Closing Dashboard: The most direct way to see the full list is the 5NEWS School Closings page. The list is alphabetized and searchable.
The 5NEWS Mobile App: You can sign up for Severe Weather Alerts and specific “Closing” push notifications to get the news the moment your district makes the call.
On-Air Coverage: During 5NEWS After Hours and the Morning News (starting at 4:30 AM), a constant scroll at the bottom of the screen lists every active delay or cancellation.

Understanding the Terms

In Arkansas and Oklahoma, districts use specific terminology to describe weather-related changes:

Alert Term	What It Means for You
Closed / AMI Day	Physical campuses are closed. Students will complete lessons via Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) packs or online platforms.
Delayed Start	School usually starts 2 hours later than the standard bell time. This allows road crews to treat slick spots after sunrise.
Early Dismissal	Students are sent home several hours early, usually to beat an incoming snow or ice storm before bus routes become dangerous.
Snow Routes Only	Buses will not travel on steep hills or unpaved backroads. Parents may need to meet the bus at a designated “main road” stop.

Why Decisions are Made

The decision to close school is never easy. Superintendents often begin “scouting” roads as early as 3:00 AM. They look at:

Temperature & Precipitaton: Is the rain turning to ice on bridges and overpasses?
Bus Safety: Can the heavy yellow buses safely navigate the winding roads of the Boston Mountains or the Ozark foothills?
Building Safety: Are there power outages or frozen pipes affecting the school facilities?

By the time the sun comes up, the 5NEWS Weather Team is usually in constant contact with local officials to provide the data they need to make the final call by 6:00 AM.

Get the latest school closings, cancellations, and delays. View school closures for Arkansas from 5NEWS. Get the local news and weather where you live from 5NEWS. Covering Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Bentonville, and all of Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

KFSM-TV, virtual channel 5 (UHF digital channel 18), is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, serving the Arkansas River Valley and Northwest Arkansas (including Fayetteville). The station is owned by Tegna Inc. -Wikipedia