Photo: Love, Holly (uploader)
A significant winter storm has forced nearly all schools across Pennsylvania's Midstate region to close their physical campuses on Monday (January 26), though some districts are pivoting to online instruction rather than giving students a traditional snow day.
The closures come after heavy snowfall on Sunday blanketed the region, making travel hazardous. School districts throughout Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York counties have announced they will not open their buildings today.
Several districts, including Central Dauphin School District, have implemented Flexible Instructional Days (FIDs), requiring students to complete assignments from home. In a message to families, Central Dauphin officials stated, "Due to current weather conditions and the travel restrictions imposed by the PA Department of Transportation, the district will use a Flexible Instructional Day on Monday, January 26, 2026," adding that "all district activities are cancelled" and district offices are closed with essential workers instructed not to report.
Other districts implementing virtual learning today include Central York and Derry Township, allowing the school systems to avoid adding makeup days to their calendars later in the year.
The winter storm's impact extends beyond schools, with numerous businesses, government offices, daycares, and churches also announcing closures throughout the region. Parents who need to verify their child's school status are advised to check their district's website or contact the school directly.
Weather forecasters have not yet indicated when conditions might improve enough for normal operations to resume.