Massachusetts school districts extend closures through Friday as power outages and unplowed roads linger

Closures stretch across Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts after February 23 blizzard

Several Massachusetts school districts announced multi-day closures through Friday as communities on Cape Cod and across parts of southeastern Massachusetts continued to face widespread power outages and difficult road conditions following the major winter storm that hit on Monday, February 23, 2026.

While many districts resumed classes midweek, the hardest-hit areas reported that a return to normal schedules remained constrained by a combination of building outages, transportation disruptions, and neighborhood streets that were still not reliably passable for buses and other vehicles.

Power restoration timelines shape reopening decisions

Utility crews continued restoration work in the days after the storm, with officials describing the largest remaining outage concentrations on Cape Cod and nearby parts of the South Coast. In public updates on Wednesday, company representatives said tens of thousands of customers remained without electricity in Barnstable County, with additional large pockets of outages in the Plymouth and New Bedford areas, and projected that most remaining customers would be restored by Friday evening, with full restoration targeted by the end of Friday night.

For school systems, the loss of power affects more than lights and heat. District leaders cited the need to verify building systems once electricity is restored, including communications lines and other core operations, before reopening to students and staff.

Road conditions and transportation constraints remain central

District statements and municipal updates highlighted ongoing concerns about safe student transportation. In several communities, downed trees and debris complicated plowing operations, and some residential streets remained only partially cleared days after the storm, limiting access for buses and emergency vehicles. In addition, some districts reported that a portion of bus routes could not be run as scheduled because segments remained impassable.

These conditions were especially pronounced in parts of Bristol and Plymouth counties, where snowfall totals exceeded three feet in some locations. National Weather Service–reported totals from the storm included measurements above 30 inches across a wide swath of southeastern Massachusetts, with some communities reporting totals in the upper 30s and low 40s.

Districts announcing closures through week’s end

By Wednesday, districts reporting cancellations through Friday included Barnstable, Falmouth, Mashpee, Plymouth, Fall River, and Taunton, among others. Some districts emphasized that many families and staff members were also still without power, further complicating a quick restart to normal routines.

• Key factors cited in closure decisions: building power status, road and sidewalk conditions, and bus route accessibility.
• Primary geographic impact area: Cape Cod and portions of southeastern Massachusetts, including the South Coast.
• Projected improvement: restoration work and continued snow removal through Friday, with phased returns expected as conditions stabilize.

With schools coming off February break, several districts noted that extended closures effectively prolong time out of the classroom, increasing pressure to reopen as soon as conditions are verified safe.

Local officials continued to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel in areas where cleanup was still underway, as crews worked to clear secondary streets and restore service to remaining outage clusters.