WSAW Latest School Closings and Delays

| | Wisconsin | No Comments

For residents across North Central Wisconsin, winter weather isn’t just a season—it’s a logistical challenge. When the snow piles up or the wind chill dips into dangerous territory, WSAW-TV (NewsChannel 7) is the primary resource for school closings, delays, and early releases.

Here is a guide on how to stay informed and what to expect when the “First Alert” weather hits.

Current School Closings and Delays Status

How to Access the Latest Closings

WSAW provides several real-time platforms to check the status of your local school district:

The Live Closing Dashboard: The most direct way to see the full list is via the WSAW Closings and Delays page. This list is alphabetized and updated the moment a superintendent confirms a change.
The First Alert Weather App: For parents on the go, the mobile app allows you to set location-specific alerts. You can receive a push notification the second your district calls for a 2-hour delay or a full closure.
On-Air Ticker: During Sunrise 7 and evening broadcasts, watch the scrolling “crawl” at the bottom of your screen for a rotating list of impacted schools, businesses, and daycare centers.

Common Closure Types & Terminology

In Wisconsin, weather decisions aren’t always about snow. Here is how to interpret the updates you see:

Status	Primary Reason	Typical Impact
Closed	Heavy snowfall or ice	No school; usually includes the cancellation of all evening sports and clubs.
2-Hour Delay	Extreme cold or morning fog	School starts 2 hours late to allow plows to clear roads or temperatures to rise slightly.
Virtual Learning Day	Anticipated storm	Students stay home but are expected to log in for “E-Learning” to avoid adding days to the end of the calendar.
Early Release	Afternoon storm arrival	Students are sent home several hours early to ensure buses can complete routes before road conditions deteriorate.

Behind the Decision: The “Why”

Superintendents in the Wausau, Stevens Point, and Rhinelander areas typically make the call by 5:30 AM. The decision-making process involves a coordinated effort:

The Wind Chill Factor: If the National Weather Service issues a Wind Chill Warning (typically $-35^{\circ}F$ or colder), many Central Wisconsin schools close to protect students waiting at bus stops.
Bus Safety: Transportation directors often drive “test routes” on rural backroads to see if heavy buses can safely navigate hills and turns.
The First Alert Team: School officials often consult with WSAW meteorologists to determine if a storm will taper off or intensify during the crucial afternoon commute.

Pro-Tip for Parents

Because lists can grow very long during a major blizzard, it is helpful to know exactly which region your school falls under on the ticker. WSAW often groups them by county or alphabetically—keep a close eye on the “W” section for Wausau or “S” for Stevens Point to ensure you don’t miss your update.

Get the latest school closings, cancellations, and delays. View school closures for Wisconsin from WSAW. We are North Central Wisconsin’s CBS-affiliate & local source for news, weather & sports.

WSAW-TV, virtual and VHF digital channel 7, is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Wausau, Wisconsin, United States. Owned by Gray Television.-Wikipedia