- Schools across several East Coast states remained closed on Monday, Feb. 2, as lingering snow, ice and prolonged cold made travel unsafe.
- Districts in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina extended closures beyond a week following a major January winter storm.
- Officials cited impassable roads and sidewalks as key safety concerns for buses and student walkers, with reopening dependent on improving conditions.
- Freezing temperatures have prevented snow and ice from melting across much of the U.S., prompting winter weather advisories and additional snowfall forecasts.
- The extended closures and severe weather have disrupted education and placed added strain on families and communities.
Schools across several East Coast states remained closed to students on Monday, Feb. 2, as prolonged cold weather and lingering snow and ice continued to make travel unsafe in many communities.
Superintendents in Montgomery County, Maryland; Fairfax County, Virginia; and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, North Carolina announced that in-person classes were canceled on Monday, extending school closures to more than a week following a winter storm that swept the region.
"Snow and ice removal from this winter weather event has been slow, where Monday will be the first day above freezing in nine days," Montgomery County Public Schools said on their official website.
District officials said many streets and sidewalks remain impassable, posing safety risks for school buses and students who walk to school.
"We know we will not have perfect conditions any time soon, but many streets and sidewalks are NOT passable for buses or safe for student walkers," the district said. Officials added they hope to resume classes on Tuesday, but reopening would depend in part on residents clearing sidewalks near schools.
Fairfax County Public Schools also cited ongoing safety concerns, saying classes were canceled because of "continued concerns about safe travel for students and staff to and from school." However, the district did not indicate whether schools would reopen on Tuesday.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools similarly announced closures Monday "due to unsafe road conditions," according to a notice on its website.
While students stayed home, some employees in Montgomery and Fairfax counties were expected to report to work, district officials said. The affected districts were among those opting not to hold remote classes during the closures.
Multiple states report significant snowfall
A January winter storm continues to affect large portions of the U.S., as persistent freezing temperatures keep snow and ice locked in place across several regions.
Multiple states reported significant snowfall from the storm, with some areas measuring multiple feet of snow and many recording at least eight inches. Since the system moved through, below-freezing temperatures have lingered, preventing natural melting and leaving snow and ice to be cleared largely by hand or heavy equipment.
On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for parts of Michigan and North Carolina, citing freezing temperatures and the potential for additional ice accumulation.
The chill has extended across much of the Southeast, including Alabama and Florida, regions where such temperatures are atypical and can strain infrastructure and pose risks to vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, additional snowfall is expected in parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast in the coming days. The weather service forecast light accumulations in states including Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey, with most areas likely to see no more than an inch of snow. Isolated locations, however, could receive up to five inches.
BrightU.AI's Enoch noted that these prolonged cold weather and lingering snow and ice in communities across the East Coast have severe and far-reaching consequences. Schools are forced to remain closed, disrupting the education of countless children and placing an undue burden on parents and caregivers.
Watch this video to learn how to deal with winter challenges.
This video is from the Natural Health Quincy IL channel on Brighteon.com.
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