EAST/VALLEY

Grafton teen weatherman is on alert for snow days

Students, superintendent follow @GWS_weather

Sandy Quadros Bowles, Grafton News
Staff and students at Grafton High School know sophomore Sam Altavilla as the weatherman. [Submitted Photo]

GRAFTON — A career in meteorology could be in the forecast for Sam Altavilla.

But for now, the Grafton High School sophomore and longtime weather buff focuses on what might be the most important question on the minds of the school community in the hours before a storm.

Will there will be a snow day? Will school be delayed? Or is it business as usual?

These are burning questions for students and staff at Grafton schools. Bolstered by his weather radio, internet reports and the most traditional of tools — a thermometer — Sam makes his best prediction as to whether staff and students can sleep in or need to wipe off their windshields and navigate snowy streets.

He shares those predictions, often with accompanying graphics, on his Twitter account, with the handle @GWS  weather.

His Twitter description says the account is the official Grafton Weather Services page and offers “accurate forecasts and predictions for the Grafton area.’’

“They call me the weatherman,’’ said Sam, 15, laughing.

“It started almost like a joke,’’ he said of his predictions.

But his predictions took off in popularity, with shares from his classmates and a major player in the school district, Superintendent of Schools Jay Cummings.

“Everyone thinks I have a direct relationship with him,’’ Sam said.

Mr. Cummings took a liking to his predictions and linked Sam’s account to his. That helped Sam’s account grow in popularity.

“I am a huge fan of Sam and his predictions,’’ Mr. Cummings said. “He is usually optimistic about the chances of snow days and that gives hope to the students of Grafton. He sets me up to be like Darth Vader! I love that Sam is passionate about the weather, and I highly recommend the Grafton Weather Services.’’

Some of his teachers have become fans as well.

“I go into class and they ask, 'So what’s the forecast?' " Sam said.

He bases his predictions on scientific information — storm track and snowfall estimates, for example.

But he adds two important factors: The history of snow days in the district and the most important factor of all for school day prognostications: when the storm is expected.

“Timing is everything’’ is more than an expression, it’s a touchstone for his predictions.

“Even 3 inches can cause a snow day if it falls at the wrong time,’’ he said.

An early-morning snowfall can prevent public works crews from cleaning the streets and sidewalks in time for school, he said.

Icy roads can also be a precursor to a snow day, he said.

“It’s most determined by manpower,’’ he said. “If the forecast is really bad and crews are limited, it’s called early. People like when it’s called early. It gives people a little more flexibility’’ in planning their schedule, he said.

To help them anticipate an early call, Sam plans ahead, studying maps and charts and comparing other forecast models.

But he avoids preparing too far ahead, keeping his work within about a two-day window.

Start too early, he said, and the variables are just too strong to make an accurate call.

“Everything changes,’’ he said.

Winter weather isn’t the only reason school might be closed. Severe thunderstorms or wind storms can cause power outages. When schools have no power, they have no classes.

All of this weather work takes time, Sam said. He dedicates a half hour to an hour a day to his weather studies, he said.

It’s a labor of love.

Sam aspires to become a meteorologist. Although professional weather forecasting plays a role in myriad careers, including private industry and the government, Sam sees himself with a microphone in his hand, sharing his forecast with the public.

“TV sounds pretty cool,’’ he said. “Something (where) I can be somewhat social. I don’t want to be holed up in an office. I’m kind of a talker.’’

Sometimes, though, he lets his Twitter account speak for him. Whether the forecast is rain or snow or heat waves with dangerous temperatures, he said, he feels more confident with every prediction.

Of course, the earlier the call, the more likely that nature will make a left turn.

“Most of the time, I get it right,’’ he said. “Sometimes I didn’t see it coming. The more I do, the better my predictions will be.’’

But one forecast is guaranteed, he said.

“We live in New England,’’ he said. “We have crazy weather around here.’’