Officials in SADs 21, 43, 44 and 72 had announced late Tuesday afternoon that school would be closed today due to weather.

In light of that, Craig Zurhorst, the marketing and development director of the nonprofit Black Mountain Ski Area in Rumford, said it will have extended hours today, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Zurhorst said the ski hill wanted to give students and parents something affordable and fun to do on a Valentine’s Day and a snow day. The ski hill is usually only open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, he said.

“It looks like we have an opportunity to give the kids something to do tomorrow and we are excited to to be in a position where we can do that,” he said Tuesday.

A detailed weather forecast for the ski hill shows the heaviest snows coming in later tonight,

Zurhorst said. “It’s not going to be bad until very late and then we will get pummeled,” Zurhorst said.

Ski tickets are $16 for junior skiers and $20 for adults.

For an up-to-date listing of school closings online go to: www.wgme.com/Closings/index.shtml