![]() ![]() Once the windchill nears –18 degrees, we know that exposed skin can suffer frostbite in 30 minutes. When the combination of ambient temperature and wind speed pushes the effective temperature (wind chill) down to –18 degrees, we know we are in the danger zone for frostbite. When temperatures plummet, we pay attention to the thermometer, barometer, anemometer, and any other ‘ometers that can help us predict the weather. We do our best to err on the side of safety. Since we must delay or close school almost three hours before the first class, there is plenty of opportunity to make a good faith decision that turns out wrong. Some areas in our district change faster than others. What's more, sometimes, conditions can go from safe to icy in less than an hour. Mix up the right combination of temperature, humidity and wind in the atmosphere, and we can get icing conditions at 30 degrees Fahrenheit and above. And since mountain regions often produce unstable weather, conditions may rapidly deteriorate or improve after the district makes its final call. So, if you don't see a closure by 6:30 AM, we are operating on a delay schedule. If we do decide to close, we will announce that decision via all our standard channels (the D49 App, the D49 website, FB, Twitter and local media) no later than 6:30 AM. We do not send additional messaging if we proceed on the delay schedule. ![]() When we delay and continue monitoring it is to review plowing progress and road conditions between 5-6AM and make a close or proceed decision by 6AM. In addition, the transportation department must cancel or delay bus routes, which typically begin picking up students at around 5:45 a.m. We make our decision as early as possible in recognition that parents, students, and staff need time to adjust to the schedule change. The determination to close the district is always made by 5 a.m., and often by 4:30 a.m. When conditions are uncertain and further observations are necessary, ground crews start evaluating road conditions at midnight, and then the transportation team begins a comprehensive review at about 2 a.m. But when the forecast is severe enough, we may issue a decision the night before. Often we make the final weather call early in the morning the day of a delay or closure. We begin to announce and broadcast our decision at approximately 4:45 a.m.
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