Most schools in Goderich and throughout Huron County, Ontario, remain closed or are operating under significant delays today, January 26, 2026, after a severe blizzard brought the region to a standstill. The storm dropped over 40 centimetres of snow in just 12 hours on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, creating dangerous whiteout conditions that made travel impossible on local highways and rural roads.
Huron Perth Student Transportation Services (HPSTS) cancelled all buses after consulting municipal snowplow operators as part of its go/no-go decision-making. This decision affected approximately 15,000 students and 2,000 staff across the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) and the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB), including schools in Goderich such as Goderich District Collegiate Institute, Goderich Public School, and St. Mary’s Catholic School.
Both the AMDSB and the HPCDSB shifted to remote learning where possible, although power and internet outages in some rural areas have made it difficult for some students to get online. Municipal crews and school-board officials are currently checking road safety to decide if buildings can safely reopen for classes on Tuesday.
The sudden closures have left many families searching for last-minute childcare as local centres reach capacity. For those needing help with meals or other social supports during the storm cleanup, resources are available through Salvation Army Goderich or by contacting Ontario 211.
