Dubuque, Iowa Snow Day Calculator
Real-time probability that schools in Dubuque, Iowa will be cancelled tomorrow, based on live forecast data and local closure thresholds.
It's 59°F — no snow day expected.
No Snow Day Risk
Real-time probability that schools in Dubuque, Iowa will be cancelled tomorrow, based on live forecast data and local closure thresholds.
It's 59°F — no snow day expected.
6–12 inches of accumulation
Dubuque sits in the continental midwest climate zone, where winter storms often arrive as mixed precipitation — rain transitioning to snow to freezing rain as Arctic fronts sweep through. Districts here typically close for events forecast to exceed 6–8 inches overnight or when significant ice accumulation is expected. Two-hour delayed starts are common for borderline events.
Midwestern storms are synoptic-scale systems — big, organized, and usually well-forecast a day in advance. That gives Dubuque district administrators time to preposition resources and make measured decisions. The closure call is typically made by 5am based on the overnight hi-res model runs, after the morning's first bus-route check.
Ice risk is the wildcard. A storm forecast to drop six inches of snow on Dubuque can instead deliver three inches of snow plus a glaze of freezing rain on top — producing road conditions far worse than either alone. When the rain/snow/ice line is forecast to pass through the region during the morning commute, closures are more likely even when total accumulation is modest.
Dubuque averages 40 inches of snow per year across a standard midwestern winter. Schools typically close 3–6 times per winter, with most closures tied to one or two disruptive systems.
Live probability for Dubuque refreshes every 30 minutes with the latest NWS forecast data. Check tonight's number before the storm arrives.
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