Cold Weather Information
It is a good idea to talk to your child about cold weather safety. It is important to check your child’s (even teenagers') outerwear. Protecting exposed skin during cold weather is extremely important: warm coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and boots will help protect your child during the winter season.
When considering the safety of students in cold weather the following information from the National Weather Service is used as a guideline in making a determination to close schools:
Cautionary: Wind Chills of -18 to -20 degrees
Advisory: Wind Chills of -25 degrees or below
Warning: Wind Chills of -35 degrees or below
In many areas of the country, schools will not close until the wind chill temperature is at the Warning level of -40 degrees or below. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that no one should be outside with unprotected skin with wind-chill factors in the range of -40 degrees or below. In Orchard Park, if the wind chill temperature reaches above the advisory level, school may be delayed or closed.