TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The severe weather anticipated in the Big Bend and South Georgia Tuesday is prompting area school districts to close. See the list of announcements below.
DECATUR COUNTY:
Schools will be closed Tuesday, January 9.
ECHOLS COUNTY:
Echols County schools announced they will be closed Tuesday, January 9 because of the potential for severe weather. Normal operations are expected to resume Wednesday, January 10.
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY:
Florida A&M University’s main campus, and the Quincy and Jacksonville satellite campuses will be closed late Monday through Tuesday ahead of weather systems that are forecast to bring dangerous tornadoes, high winds, and hail to a large swath of north Florida.
The Tallahassee main campus, including FAMU DRS, the Educational Research Center for Child Development, the Research and Extension Center in Quincy, and the Viticulture Center in Tallahassee will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, January 8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, January 9.
The Northeast Florida Pharmacy Practice Center in Jacksonville will also be closed from 8 p.m., Monday to 11 p.m., Tuesday.
The Facilities and Planning Department is working with contractors to secure construction sites ahead of the high winds.
The Durell Peaden Jr. Rural Pharmacy Education Center in Crestview will be closed at 5 p.m. (Central Time) Monday until 11 p.m., CT Tuesday.
The Main Campus Dining Services will close at 7:30 p.m., Monday. On Tuesday, campus retail dining services will operate on the weekend schedule. The Hub and Main Dining Hall will be open. Residence halls also will remain open, and students are urged not to travel, but to shelter in place. One-Stop-Shop academic advising at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center will resume on Wednesday and is extended to Thursday.
Until further notice, normal operations are expected at the Brooksville Agricultural and Environmental Research Station (BAERS), the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Central Florida Pharmacy Practice, the Tampa/Orlando and Davie sites, and the College of Law in Orlando.
Please check FAMU ALERT, Daily Venom or visit FAMU.edu, Facebook or Instagram for further updates.
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY:
Florida State University’s Tallahassee and Panama City campuses will close and cancel classes Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, due to a significant high-impact and severe weather event that will affect the region tonight and Tuesday. The closure begins at 11 p.m. ET Monday, Jan. 8, and will run until 11 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Essential business operations will continue during the closure. Deans and Vice Presidents will provide guidance for their respective colleges and divisions. Employees designated by their department as essential personnel should consult with their supervisors.
Florida State University Schools (FSUS) and The Collegiate School at FSU Panama City will also be closed Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Main campus housing will remain open and dining operations will be adjusted accordingly throughout the closure. The university expects to resume classes and normal business operations on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
FRANKLIN COUNTY:
Due to expected inclement weather, School will be closed Tuesday, January 9th. We will resume on Wednesday, January 10th. All extracurricular activities/ games have been cancelled for today Monday, January 8th. The Citizen of the Month Celebration has been rescheduled from Tuesday, January 9th to Wednesday, January 10th at 1:30PM.
GADSDEN COUNTY:
In anticipation of severe weather conditions forecasted for the Gadsden County area, Gadsden County Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Additionally, all afterschool activities scheduled for Tuesday will be canceled. Afterschool activities on Monday, January 8, will proceed as planned. The district will evaluate any potential storm damage tomorrow and make further adjustments to school operations as needed after the weather clears our area. Stay vigilant regarding the weather and prioritize safety.
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
All Jefferson County Schools Sites will be closed January 9, 2024 due to Severe Weather. Please stay safe and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
LEON COUNTY:
Due to anticipated severe weather entering the Leon County area within the next 24 hours, Leon County Schools has made the decision to close schools on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. All afterschool activities will be canceled for Tuesday as well. Afterschool activities for Monday, January 8 may proceed as scheduled. The district will assess any possible storm damage tomorrow and evaluate any further changes to school operations once the weather moves through our area. Please be weather aware and stay safe.
LIBERTY COUNTY:
After careful consultation with our local and state Emergency Management officials, I am closing all Liberty County Schools for TOMORROW, Tuesday, January 9th. Although the incoming storm does not appear to be a major long-term rainmaker, meteorologists are projecting an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes about the time students would be waiting on the school bus. Winds after the front passes are projected to be 35-50mph. I am praying for no damage to the schools tomorrow and no damage or injury to you and your family at home. After the storm passes, we will do a careful inspection to ensure the safety of our student's return on Wednesday. I will continue to keep you updated through ParentSquare, our district website at www.lcsb.org, and on my personal Facebook page. Thanks again for your patience and STAY SAFE!!
Sincerely,
Kyle Peddie
Liberty County Superintendent of Schools
LOWNDES COUNTY:
Lowndes County Schools closed Tuesday. The safety of our staff and students is always our top priority. At this time, Tuesday's wind predictions of 30 - 50 mph exceed the safety threshold of school buses. With this in mind, the decision has been made to close all Lowndes County Schools and the System Office tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9th. Please follow Lowndes EMA for additional information and updates. We look forward to seeing our One Lowndes family on Wednesday, January 10th.
SEMINOLE COUNTY:
Due to unknown weather conditions, Seminole County Schools will be canceled for, January 9, 2024. All extracurricular activities, including clubs and athletics, will be canceled. Stay home and stay safe! We hope to see you Wednesday morning.
SOUTHERN REGIONAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE:
Due to the threat of severe weather in our service delivery area, in-person classes on all Southern Regional Technical College campuses are canceled for Tuesday, January 9.
At this time, the college anticipates reopening Wednesday, January 10, but will continue to monitor the situation and update if necessary.
TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE:
Due to the severe weather expected to impact our region, the College will be closed on Tuesday, January 9. The Florida Public Safety Institute will be open for limited operations, but classes will be canceled. All classes and normal operations will resume on Wednesday, January 10.
TAYLOR COUNTY:
Taylor County Schools will be closed due to the threat of severe weather Tuesday, January 9.
THOMASVILLE CITY SCHOOLS:
All Thomasville City Schools will be closed all day on Tuesday, January 9th for students and employees due to the threat of severe weather. In addition, all activities are also canceled.
THOMAS COUNTY SCHOOLS:
The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. Following the afternoon severe weather briefing with local emergency management officials, a decision has been made to close school for students and staff Tuesday, January 9. The incoming storms are predicted to include the possibility of tornadoes, hail and high wind gusts that would make it unsafe for the transportation and travel for our students and staff. We urge everyone to stay safe and follow local advisories. We look forward to seeing our Yellow Jacket family on Wednesday, January 10.
THOMAS UNIVERSITY:
Due to severe weather in our area, all campus, in-person classes, and all on-campus activities will be canceled for Tuesday, January 9th. Please check emails and social media for updates. Stay safe, Night Hawks!
VALDOSTA CITY SCHOOLS:
District administrators have been closely monitoring the impending weather event expected to be moving into our area over the next several hours. Tuesday's wind predictions are expected to range from 30 - 50 mph, exceeding the safety threshold of school buses. Because of this, Valdosta City Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 9. Please follow Lowndes EMA [facebook.com] for additional information and updates. We look forward to seeing everyone back in our schools on Wednesday, January 10th.
WAKULLA COUNTY:
We have been advised by Wakulla County Sheriff Office’s Emergency Management that it will be unsafe to operate schools January 9th, 2024 due to the Severe Weather forecasted by the National Weather Service. The most damaging part of the storm is expected to reach our area during school arrival times with heavy rains, strong sustained winds of 30-40mph, gusts in excess of 50-60mph, minor to moderate coastal flooding, and pockets of flash flooding. This is a fast-moving storm which will clear our area by the end of the day Tuesday, and school will reopen at regular start times on Wednesday January 10th, 2024.
