'Snow Day' Forecast: Late Season School Bus Cancellations Possible on Monday Due to Heavy Snow
/For an updated list of school bus cancellations & school closures, please visit our live article: https://instantweatherinc.com/article/2025/3/24/bus-cancellations
With the school year nearing the end of peak weather-related bus cancellation season, students in parts of Southern Ontario may still have a chance to squeeze in one more snow day before spring fully takes over.
A messy weather system is set to sweep across Southern Ontario overnight Sunday into Monday, bringing the potential for accumulating snow and hazardous travel conditions during the Monday morning commute. Areas around Georgian Bay could see up to 20 cm of snowfall, which may be enough to trigger widespread school bus cancellations in some regions.
Environment Canada has issued winter travel advisories for parts of Grey-Bruce, Parry Sound, and North Bay, making these locations the most likely to experience disruptions on Monday morning.
For students in the Near North District School Board, which covers Parry Sound and North Bay, the likelihood of a snow day is quite high, sitting at 75%. With these areas expected to receive the heaviest snowfall, and considering that this school board has a history of being cautious with winter weather, there's a strong possibility that school buses will be canceled on Monday.
The Bruce Peninsula, Northern Muskoka, and North Hastings (Tri-Board) face a more uncertain forecast, with the chances of a snow day sitting at 50/50. These areas are expected to see less snowfall overall. However, factors like blowing snow and reduced visibility during the morning hours could still result in cancellations, especially in rural and exposed areas.
For the rest of Grey-Bruce, along with South Muskoka and northern sections of Tri-Board, the chance of school bus cancellations is slight but not impossible. Snowfall amounts will likely be lower, but conditions could still lead to localized travel disruptions, particularly on untreated roads.
The probability of a snow day drops significantly for the rest of Southern Ontario, including Southwestern Ontario, the Golden Horseshoe, and Eastern Ontario. Snowfall in these areas is not expected to be heavy enough to warrant widespread bus cancellations. However, there remains a small chance (5-25%) of isolated cancellations, particularly in rural areas where road conditions can deteriorate more quickly.
While this storm won’t bring a province-wide snow day, those in the hardest-hit regions should keep an eye on overnight conditions and school board announcements early Monday morning.
Disclaimer: Instant Weather has zero authority when it comes to bus and school closures.
It is completely up to the school boards, bus companies, local authorities, and parents to decide what is best for their children. This is our best guess based on our forecast.