The holidays are over, but there’s a reason for kids (and adults!) to keep hope alive – snow days!

Whether you have a whole day off to enjoy the fluffy whites or are doing a remote learning session in your pajamas from the couch, it’s still a pleasure to break up the midwinter chatter.

Want to predict the likelihood of a snow day coming up?

Although the weather, like many things these days, is difficult to predict, there is an app for that.

Snow day calculator

The Snow Day Calculator asks users to enter their location, how many snow days they have had this school year, and what type of school (public, urban public, rural public, private/preparatory, or boarding school) they attend. It then uses a “custom formula” to predict the likelihood of a snow day in the next two days.

Users can receive a third day of predictions by signing up for a free trial or purchasing a one-year subscription for $4 or a two-year subscription for $7. You can receive text messages with the predictions.

History of the snow calculator

Much like Frosty, the calculator came to life one day as a middle school project in 2007. Back then, users had to pull their own weather data, and the program would output the probability of snow, according to SnowCalculator.com.

In 2010, the calculator introduced the National Weather Service’s automatic forecast retrieval, which meant it could automatically predict snow data for every zip code in the United States. According to the service, more than 5 million people now use the tool every year to get “insanely accurate information about whether their school will be closed due to upcoming weather.” Users like to update their predictions several times a day (sometimes several times an hour). ) to get the latest forecast based on the latest weather information.”

There are also iOS and Android apps for the snow calculator available for download.

How does the snow calculator work?

So how does it work?

“Snow day forecasts utilize the timing and severity of a snowstorm, wind, temperature, ice forecasts and historical information about a user’s location and school,” the website says, saying it is 100% accurate in many locations .

As users report what actually happened every day, the calculator “learns” more about each school and region, helping it become more accurate.

However, there is one thing the calculator cannot predict – whether or not a school closure means online learning or an actual day off. Check with your local county for emergency closure plans.

Visit snowdaycalculator.com for more information or to try the tool.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Snow Day Forecast: Calculate the Chances of an Off Day