School closings today across US - Check full list and areas affected

Snow, freezing temperatures, and worsening road conditions forced widespread school closures across multiple regions on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. From Metro Detroit to Northeast Ohio, school leaders moved quickly as rain turned into snow, making travel increasingly unsafe overnight. By early morning, hundreds of schools had already shut their doors, with more updates rolling in as conditions deteriorated.

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Road crews worked through the night, but the fast-changing weather left little room for error. As temperatures dropped, rain froze and snowfall intensified, prompting closures, parking bans, and snow emergencies across several communities.


Snow and plunging temperatures followed a stretch of rain, creating slick roads overnight. School officials across multiple states cited safety concerns as closures mounted. By sunrise, large parts of the region were dealing with shutdowns and travel disruptions, as per a report by Click on Detriot, Fox8, Cleveland.com, WNEP.

Why were Metro Detroit schools closed Thursday Jan 15?

Snow and cold temperatures were expected to dominate Metro Detroit throughout the day. Road conditions began to deteriorate during the Wednesday evening rush hour when light rain shifted into a blustery snow. Conditions continued to worsen overnight, prompting widespread closures.


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More than 450 schools across the region closed as several communities issued parking bans and snow emergencies. Pre-treating roads on Wednesday was not an option, as rain would have washed away salt. Once temperatures dropped and precipitation turned to snow, plow crews hit the roadways and continued working around the clock.

Metro Detroit school closures include:

Covenant House Academy – Detroit

David Ellis Academy – Detroit

Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences

Detroit Achievement Academy

Detroit Catholic Central High School

Detroit Christian Schools

Detroit Community Schools (Charter) – Closed, no PM activities

Detroit Country Day School – All campuses

Detroit Cristo Rey High School

Detroit Edison Public Academy

Detroit Enterprise Academy

Detroit Extravagant Academy

Detroit Innovation Academy

Detroit Leadership Academy – Virgil

Detroit Leadership Academy High School

Detroit Merit Charter Academy

Detroit Premier Academy

Detroit Prep

Detroit Public Safety Academy

Detroit Public Schools

Detroit Service Learning Academy

Detroit Waldorf School

Several closures were reported through Wayne County RESA, the Archdiocese of Detroit, Detroit Country Day, and National Heritage Academies, with update times spanning throughout Wednesday and into the evening.

How did the storm impact travel conditions?

Travel conditions became increasingly dangerous as snow accumulated overnight. Roads turned slick, visibility dropped, and emergency measures were put into place. Parking bans and snow emergencies were issued in several areas as plow crews struggled to keep pace with the system.

Beyond Michigan, winter weather also caused significant travel disruptions in neighboring states. In Pennsylvania, a crash closed a section of Interstate 80 east in Luzerne County early Thursday morning. According to PennDOT, the crash happened just after midnight at the split of Interstate 80 and Interstate 81 near Drums. Traffic was detoured onto Interstate 81 as crews worked at the scene, as per a report by WNEP.


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What happened with school closures in Northeast Ohio?

Northeast Ohio was also heavily affected as the winter storm moved through the region. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District and several surrounding districts canceled classes for Thursday, Jan. 15, as forecasts called for up to 15 inches of snow.

Heavy snow was already impacting travel Wednesday night, particularly in the snow belt east of Cleveland. Speed limits were reduced to 40 mph on Interstate 90 east of Ohio 44 in Lake County because of slick conditions, according to the OHGO.com website. The West Side was also hit hard, with Interstate 90 covered in snow near Avon just after 10 p.m.

Northeast Ohio school closures include:

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Akron City Schools

Avon Schools

Avon Lake City Schools

Bay Village City Schools

Elyria City Schools

Mentor Exempted Village School District

Parma City Schools

St. Edward High School

St. Ignatius High School

Westlake City Schools

Additional districts and schools that canceled classes include:

Agape Christian Academy

Akron Public Schools

Amherst Exempted Village Schools

Andrews Osborne Academy (Willoughby)

Apex Academy

Ashtabula Area City Schools

Ashtabula County Tech Campus

Assumption Academy (Broadview Heights)

Auburn Career Center

Aurora City Schools

Avon Local Schools

Beaumont School

School officials across the region emphasized that cancellations were made due to worsening travel conditions and expected snowfall throughout the day.


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FAQs

How many schools closed due to the storm?
More than 450 schools closed across multiple regions as snow and cold intensified.

Did highway conditions worsen overnight?
Yes. Snow-covered roads, reduced speed limits, and crashes were reported as conditions deteriorated.