WPRI 12 Latest School Closings and Delays

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When winter storms or emergencies hit Southern New England, WPRI 12 is one of the most trusted sources for real-time information on school closures, delays, and early dismissals. Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, their Pinpoint Weather team works alongside the Rhode Island Broadcasters Association (RIBA) to keep the community informed.

Current School Closings and Delays Status

How to Access the WPRI 12 Closing List

WPRI 12 provides multiple platforms to ensure you don’t miss an update before the morning bus arrival:

WPRI.com Closings Page: The most direct way to see the full list is via the WPRI 12 Closings & Delays dashboard. This list is alphabetized and searchable.
WPRI 12 Mobile App: You can download the app on iOS or Android and enable Push Notifications for weather alerts. This is often the fastest way to get a notification if your specific district makes a call.
On-Air Ticker: During 12 News Today (which begins at 4:30 AM), the station runs a continuous scroll at the bottom of the screen listing all active cancellations and delays.
Social Media: Updates are frequently posted to the WPRI 12 X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook pages during major storm events.

Understanding the Closing Categories

When viewing the list, you will encounter several different status types:

Closed: School is canceled for the day. This usually includes all evening activities, sports, and community use of the buildings.
1-Hour or 2-Hour Delay: School starts later than usual to allow DPW crews to clear roads and sidewalks. Note: If your child is in a half-day program (like morning Pre-K), a 2-hour delay often results in that program being canceled entirely.
Early Dismissal: Used when weather is expected to worsen during the afternoon. Schools will release students several hours early to ensure buses can complete their routes before the peak of a storm.
Parking Bans: In many Rhode Island towns, school closings are accompanied by municipal parking bans to allow for snow plowing.

The Decision Process

Decisions are typically finalized by superintendents between 4:00 AM and 5:30 AM. They coordinate with the WPRI Pinpoint Weather team to understand the timing of precipitation and consult with local police and public works departments regarding the safety of the roads. If a decision is made the night before, it is usually posted by 10:00 PM.

Get the latest school closings, cancellations, and delays. View school closures for Rhode Island from WPRI 12. We deliver local Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts news & weather stories, and we do what we do to make Providence, Warwick, Cranston.