School Closings and Delays Today (January 20, 2026)

Today, Tuesday, January 20, 2026, there are significant school disruptions across the Midwest and the Northeast due to an intense Arctic blast and residual ice from weekend storms.

While many schools were already closed yesterday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the dangerous plunge in temperatures—with wind chills reaching -15°F to -20°F—has forced hundreds of districts to remain closed or delay their return.

School Closings and Delays in the USA for January 20, 2026

School closings and delays on this date are largely due to extreme cold temperatures, wind chills below zero, and lingering winter weather effects in parts of the Northeast and Midwest. No widespread closings were reported in other regions like the South, West, or Southwest. Below is a compiled full list of reported closings and delays from available sources, grouped by state for clarity. This includes all details such as specific statuses (e.g., closed, delayed, remote learning) and any additional notes. Lists are based on regional reports and may not capture every local decision—check local district websites for the latest updates.

New York

Primarily western and central areas affected by cold and snow.

Pennsylvania

Widespread impacts in western, central, and eastern PA, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and surrounding areas.

The following is the detailed list for the Pittsburgh area and surrounding western PA counties (over 200 reported; partial compilation based on available data):

Michigan

Focused on Metro Detroit, with widespread closings due to sub-zero wind chills and snow.

Virginia and West Virginia

Limited reports from Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas.

❄️ Midwest: The “Deep Freeze”

The Midwest is the most affected region today, with extreme cold making bus transportation dangerous.

• Ohio: Over 300 schools are closed or delayed.

  • Cleveland: Cleveland Metropolitan School District and most surrounding districts (Avon Lake, Akron, etc.) are CLOSED.

  • Columbus Area: Several districts like Delaware, Olentangy, and Coshocton are CLOSED. Note that Columbus City Schools were already scheduled to be off for a professional development day.

  • Miami Valley (Dayton): Nearly 100 districts have announced delays or closures. Dayton Public Schools are CLOSED.

• Michigan: Widespread closures due to subzero wind chills and lake-effect snow.

  • Metro Detroit: Dozens of districts, including Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, and Milan, are CLOSED.

  • West Michigan: Western Michigan University (WMU) has closed its campuses. Many K-12 districts in Kent and Ottawa counties are either closed or on 2-hour delays.

❄️ Northeast & Mid-Atlantic: Icy Roads & Black Ice

The focus here is on “flash freezing” and black ice following weekend snow.

• Pennsylvania: * Philadelphia Area: Many schools are on 2-hour delays to allow for salting and safer travel.

  • Pittsburgh Area: Numerous delays and closures are reported as temperatures plummeted overnight.

  • Lebanon County: Districts including Annville-Cleona, ELCO, and Palmyra are on 2-hour delays.

• Maryland: * Harford County (HCPS): Operating on a 2-hour delay. No morning Early Learners or Learning Together programs.

• Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Public Schools are CLOSED today due to inclement weather and extreme cold. High School Regents exams scheduled for today will be rescheduled.

❄️ South & Virginias

• Virginia: Scattered delays (2-hour) in counties like Berkeley, Fauquier, and Frederick due to icy patches.

• West Virginia: Hampshire County is on a “Non-Traditional Instruction Day” (Remote Learning).

• Georgia: Some North Georgia districts (e.g., Fannin County) moved to virtual learning due to black ice concerns.

🚨 Summary Table: Major Districts

For the most current information on school closings or delays in specific areas, it’s advisable to check local news outlets or official school district communications.