MOCO Schools Watch Incoming Snowstorm, Expect Schedule Changes

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — The incoming winter storm that could drop 5 to 8 inches of snow in Montgomery County will likely mean schedule changes Tuesday and Wednesday, school district officials said Monday.

Potential announcements and/or updates about Wednesday’s status will be made prior to 7 p.m. Tuesday, the district said.

Here is the school district's message on the storm, posted at 4:56 p.m. Monday:

MCPS is watching this week’s weather closely. We are expecting snow accumulation that will likely interrupt school operations. It is too early to make a decision about a closure or potential delays or potential early releases. That said, we anticipate a high probability of changes to the schedule of events on Tuesday and Wednesday.

At this time, we do not anticipate closing school early tomorrow (Tuesday). Even though it will likely be snowing during dismissal tomorrow, ground and air temperatures are predicted to be above freezing, making road conditions manageable into the early evening. There is a high probability of afternoon and evening activities being canceled or postponed tomorrow (Tuesday) and may also impact access to childcare.

In the event that snow accumulation matches predictions on Tuesday and Wednesday, there is also a high probability of a potential school closure on Wednesday.

• Related: Snow Estimates Climb In MD; Winter Storm Warning Issued

Please plan ahead for these potential scenarios.

Important Note: An empty parking lot means we can plow and treat school parking lots and reopen faster. We encourage anyone with a vehicle in a school parking lot to remove it as soon as possible.

We are planning to make decisions about weather-related closures as early as possible. Please expect announcements about Tuesday afternoon’s status to be made prior to noon on Tuesday. Potential announcements and/or updates about Wednesday’s status will be made prior to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Making decisions about weather-related closures are driven by the safety of students, staff, and visitors to our schools. Our ability to transport students, our staff’s ability to get to work, and school campus conditions after a weather event are all factors in weather-related closures.

Conditions in one part of the county may be perfectly fine and drastic in another - the staff required to open your child’s school may be inhibited from getting to work because of conditions different than the ones in your neighborhood. Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate inclement winter weather in Montgomery County’s 500 square miles.