Schools Closed Tomorrow: Central Ohio Districts Cancel Classes for Monday, January 26, 2026 After Heavy Snow and Dangerous Cold

A growing list of Central Ohio school districts will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026 (ET) as communities dig out from a major winter storm and brace for dangerously cold wind chills. District leaders cited snow-covered neighborhood streets, slick sidewalks, and transportation concerns as the main drivers behind the decision to call off in-person learning.

Families should expect more announcements overnight and early Monday morning as road crews continue clearing residential routes and districts evaluate whether buses and student drivers can travel safely.

School closings January 26, 2026: Who’s closed so far

Districts across the metro area and surrounding counties have already announced no classes on Monday, January 26 (ET). Among those closed:

• Columbus City Schools

• Bexley City Schools

• Big Walnut Local Schools

• Buckeye Valley Local Schools

• Dublin City Schools

• Hilliard City Schools

• Olentangy Local Schools

• Upper Arlington Schools

• Westerville City School District

• Worthington City Schools

• Chillicothe City Schools

This is not an exhaustive list, and districts outside the immediate metro may make decisions on slightly different timelines based on local road conditions.

Why schools are closing: It’s not just snow—it's what comes after

While heavy snowfall grabbed the headlines over the weekend, super-cold air is keeping recovery slow. Even after main roads are plowed, the biggest safety issues often linger in the places students actually travel: side streets, apartment lots, bus turnarounds, and building entrances.

In parts of Central Ohio, local travel restrictions have been elevated to the highest snow-emergency level, effectively limiting road use to essential trips. That kind of restriction quickly turns school operations into a no-win scenario: even if a district can open buildings, it may not be able to guarantee safe transportation or staffing.

Behind the headline: transportation is the real pressure point

School closures in storms are frequently framed as a simple weather call, but the true constraint is system capacity:

• Buses can’t run reliably when routes cut through unplowed subdivisions or when visibility drops during drifting.

• Driver availability shrinks when travel is restricted, childcare is disrupted, or commutes become risky.

• Student safety becomes unpredictable at stops when sidewalks are buried or when wind chills push exposure into dangerous territory within minutes.

• Timing matters: even if roads improve by midday, districts have to decide early enough for families who need childcare plans and for staff who commute from outside the district.

This is why “tomorrow’s closure” decisions often happen the night before—districts aren’t only judging the forecast, they’re judging whether the community can function as a transportation network by bell time.

What we still don’t know (and what families should watch)

Even with Monday’s closures rolling in, several key questions remain:

• Will closures extend into Tuesday, January 27 (ET)? Some districts have indicated they will reassess during the day Monday, depending on road clearing and temperatures.

• Will districts switch to remote learning or take a traditional snow day? Policies vary, and some systems cap the number of calamity days before makeup time is required.

• What happens to athletics and extracurriculars Monday night? Many districts cancel activities automatically when classes are canceled, but exceptions sometimes exist for tournaments or rescheduled events.

What happens next: likely scenarios for the next 24–48 hours

Here are realistic paths from here, depending on road progress and cold intensity:

1. Roads improve, schools reopen Tuesday: Main roads stay clear, neighborhood routes become passable, and districts return quickly.

2. A second day of closures Tuesday: Side streets remain blocked and wind chills stay severe, pushing districts to keep students home again.

3. Delayed starts instead of full closures: If clearing improves but mornings remain bitterly cold, some districts may opt for delays to give crews more time.

4. Remote learning expands: Districts with established online plans may call e-learning days to avoid schedule disruptions later in the year.

5. Activities resume before classes: In some cases, evening events may return first if travel conditions stabilize by late afternoon.

For now, the headline is clear: many Central Ohio students will not be in classrooms on Monday, January 26, 2026 (ET), as districts prioritize safety during a storm cleanup that’s being complicated by extreme cold.