Kamloops Snow Day Predictor – Kamloops-Thompson School District (SD73)
Will Tomorrow Be a Snow Day?
Canada's most accurate snow day predictor
Kamloops sits at the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers in interior British Columbia, in a semi-arid valley surrounded by hills and mountains. The city averages approximately 55–80 cm of snow per year but, as interior BC, closes for genuine winter conditions. Kamloops-Thompson School District (SD73) covers a large area with mountain-highway bus routes, making snowfall, ice, and cold real closure factors – a stark contrast to the coastal Lower Mainland.
Will Kamloops schools be closed tomorrow? Enter your city in the predictor above for tonight’s closure probability, updated hourly from Environment Canada data. Always confirm with your school board’s official channels before making plans.
Kamloops School Boards – Who Decides Closures
- Kamloops-Thompson School District (School District 73) – Kamloops, Chase, Barriere, Clearwater, Logan Lake. sd73.bc.ca | Announces: 6:00–7:00 AM | Radio: Radio NL 610 AM, B100 FM | Twitter/X: @SD73
- Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF) – French schools serving Kamloops. csf.bc.ca
Kamloops Snow Day Triggers – What Closes Schools Here
Kamloops closures are driven by:
- Interior snowfall and ice: Kamloops gets real accumulating snow and ice, unlike the coast. Snowfall and freezing conditions on the valley’s hilly roads close schools and cancel buses.
- Mountain-highway bus routes: SD73 is geographically large, with buses travelling mountain highways to Chase, Barriere, Clearwater, and Logan Lake that become hazardous or impassable in winter storms.
- Interior cold snaps: Arctic air can push into the interior, bringing extreme cold and freezing conditions.
How Often Do Kamloops Schools Close?
Kamloops-Thompson SD73 averages approximately 3–8 closure days per year – far more than the BC coast – reflecting interior winter snowfall and extensive mountain-highway bus routes. Rural and higher-elevation routes are cancelled more often than city closures. December through February are peak months.
See Also – Nearby Predictors and Guides
Explore the British Columbia Snow Day Predictor for all school boards in the province, or check nearby cities:
Related guides:
Frequently Asked Questions – Kamloops Snow Days
Which school district does the Kamloops predictor track?
The predictor calculates data specifically for School District 73 (Kamloops-Thompson). This district covers public schools within the city of Kamloops as well as surrounding rural communities like Chase, Barriere, and Clearwater.
How do the steep hills of Kamloops affect the predictor’s percentage?
Kamloops has unique terrain with massive elevation changes. The predictor often spikes because of severe winter conditions in high-altitude neighborhoods like Aberdeen, Sahali, and Pineview, even if the roads down in the valley bottom (like downtown or North Shore) are completely clear and dry.
How much snow is needed to trigger a high percentage on the Kamloops predictor?
Because Kamloops is in the BC Interior, city plow crews are highly experienced and efficient. A standard snowfall will not move the needle; the predictor’s algorithm spikes significantly only when a weather warning forecasts 15 cm or more of rapid morning snow, or when freezing rain turns hilly intersections into ice sheets.
If the Kamloops predictor hits 100%, does it mean schools are fully closed?
Yes, if a severe weather day is officially declared, schools close completely for all students and staff. Because many rural bus routes travel on treacherous mountain highways, and many urban staff members must commute up or down the city’s steep hills, unsafe roads lead to a full district-wide shutdown.
What time is the Kamloops snow day predictor most accurate?
The highest accuracy window is between 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM on the morning of a storm. While checking the night before gives a good baseline estimate, overnight temperature drops in the Thompson Valley can drastically change a forecast, requiring final morning radar updates right before the board’s 6:30 AM official announcement.