How will CMS decide to cancel school, delay classes as winter storm moves in?
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials haven’t decided whether to delay or cancel school in anticipation of snow headed for Charlotte, and neither have other local districts.
They’ll consider road safety and weather conditions as a torrent of snow, sleet and freezing rain is projected to reach Charlotte as early as Friday and linger through Sunday. According to the National Weather Service, lows will reach 19 degrees on Saturday and 13 degrees Sunday.
“Uncertainty remains regarding the location and magnitude of this winter storm’s various components,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported early Tuesday. “Broad swaths of freezing rain and sleet are expected south of the all-snow over the .... Carolinas. Hazardous travel conditions, power outages, and tree damage are likely.”
Temperatures are projected to dip as low as 9 degrees on Monday as children could be returning to school.
Local districts typically decide whether to cancel or delay school within 24 hours of when the weather is expected to hit.
If school is canceled or delayed, CMS will communicate with families “as soon as possible” through text, email or the district’s ParentSquare communication platform, according to the CMS Parent-Student Handbook.
The same decision – whether it’s to cancel classes, delay the start of school or continue as normal – will apply to all schools across the 523-square-mile district, regardless of potential differences in weather conditions across the county.
“Safety is the priority. Since students travel across the county, decisions must consider all students, not just by region,” CMS states on the inclement weather page on its website. “Students are transported all over the county each day.”
School districts are required to have a minimum of 185 days or 1,025 hours of instruction, according to state law. This year’s CMS calendar has 1,063 scheduled instructional hours – 38 more than the 1,025 legally required.
But, the CMS Board of Education has its own parameters for canceled school days. Board policy allows the superintendent to “waive up to four instructional days each year in the event schools are closed to students because of severe weather or other emergency conditions.”
What does CMS consider when canceling, delaying school?
There are seven main factors CMS considers when deciding whether to cancel school due to weather: type of event, the timing and path, advisories, road conditions and traffic patterns, temperature, wind gusts and the expected impact on surrounding school districts.
“Weather conditions can be unpredictable. Therefore, the timing of the weather event is considered, with some areas projected to receive severe weather conditions while areas may remain largely unaffected,” a CMS spokesperson told the Charlotte Observer in March.
Transportation, and whether buses can safely get around the county, is a big part of the calculus. Last March, CMS canceled school for a day when 50-mile-per-hour winds were expected during peak transportation hours. Winds of 30 miles an hour or more can interfere with the steering control of a school bus.
“As wind gusts projections intensified and the worst conditions aligned with morning transportation hours, CMS determined closure was the safest option,” the district said at the time. “While no decision will be perfect for everyone, our commitment remains the safe keeping of students and staff.”
The call is ultimately CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill’s. But, district officials consult sources such as the National Weather Service, local meteorologists, Mecklenburg Emergency Management and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to monitor forecasts.
When it comes to whether to cancel school entirely or continue instruction remotely, a key consideration is whether teachers have enough time to prepare and adapt lesson plans for virtual learning.
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 10:23 AM.
