Brainerd Public School District Snow Day Predictor
The odds of a closing or a delay on the next three school mornings in Brainerd, measured against Brainerd's own big snow morning of 4 inches.
Will Brainerd close tomorrow?
How Brainerd calls a snow day
When the call comes
No later than 5:00 AM the day of school; in advance when indicators are strong.
“Makes final decisions based on feedback from observed conditions, no later than 5:00 AM the day of school.”Source
How families hear
By the district app, radio, local TV, the district website and social media.
“Any adjustments to the school schedule due to inclement weather will be communicated to all families through a ParentSquare alert.”Brainerd Public Schools - Inclement Weather Information Home
A 2 hour delay
On a delay morning every school starts 2 hours late.
“If your student(s) ride district transportation, their pick-up time will be delayed by 2 hours—for example, if your student is picked up at 7:22 AM, they will be picked up at 9:22 AM”Delay schedule
2 built in snow days
On the 2026 to 2027 calendar, listed as “Snow Make Up Day”.
“29 No School - Inservice Day (Snow Make Up Day)”Source
Making up a lost day
On two inservice days marked as snow make up days, March 29 and April 19, 2027.
“19 No School (Snow Make Up Day)”Source
The 2026 to 2027 calendar
- First day September 8, 2026
- Winter break Dec 23 to Jan 1
- Last day June 4, 2027
The board policy
“A snow day cancellation will occur when it is determined that it is unsafe to transport students by bus, to drop students off at school, for students to drive to school, or for the district to keep buildings open safely during severe winter weather.”Board policy
Read from Brainerd’s own pages on October 8, 2026; the district site is isd181.org.
Brainerd’s snow record
More 4 inch school mornings than 83% of the 322 Minnesota districts with a station record.
- Biggest day 12.5 in on December 27, 2021
- Snowiest winter 2022 to 2023, 88.8 in
- 6 in mornings 0.8 a winter
- 1 in mornings 11.3 a winter
Measured at a NOAA weather station under a mile away. Mornings are the 7 am snow reading on a weekday from December 1 through March 31, over the ten winters from 2016 to 2017 through 2025 to 2026, from NOAA GHCN Daily.
How Minnesota counts a lost day
Minnesota requires at least 165 days for grades 1 to 11, plus 935 hours for grades 1 to 6 and 1,020 hours for grades 7 to 12.
The Minnesota rules in the agency’s own words, and every Minnesota district
Districts near Brainerd
| District | Snow a winter | 4 in mornings |
|---|---|---|
| Pillager Public School DistrictPillager | 69.2 in | 3.1 |
| Pequot Lakes Public SchoolsPequot Lakes | 69.2 in | 3.1 |
| Pierz Public School DistrictPierz | 62.5 in | 2.1 |
| Little Falls Public School DistrictLittle Falls | 59.4 in | 2.8 |
| Holdingford Public School DistrictHoldingford | 51.5 in | 3 |
| Wadena-Deer Creek School DistrictWadena | 58 in | 2.9 |
13 schools
Every school in Brainerd follows the district’s call: one closing covers them all.
High
- Brainerd Senior High
- ISD 181 Learning Center
- Brainerd Online School
Middle
- Forestview Middle, Baxter
- Middle Level Alternative Program
Elementary
- Baxter Elementary, Baxter
- Riverside Elementary
- Lowell Elementary
- Garfield Elementary
- Nisswa Elementary, Nisswa
- Harrison Elementary
Other schools
- Brainerd Early Childhood Sp. Ed., Baxter
- Lincoln Education Center
Brainerd snow day questions
More for Minnesota snow days
The odds are a forecast read, and the superintendent makes the call: the district’s own announcement is the one to follow.