Hurricane Dorian prompts several Midlands schools to close on Thursday out of caution
Several Columbia area schools will be closed on Thursday out of concerns about the powerful weather brought to the Midlands by Hurricane Dorian.
Late Wednesday afternoon, multiple school districts in Richland and Lexington counties announced there will be no classes. They join about a dozen other districts across South Carolina that have already cancelled classes.
Among the Midlands school districts that will be closed Thursday are:
▪ Richland One
▪ Richland Two
▪ Lexington One
▪ Lexington Two
▪ Lexington Three
▪ Lexington 4
▪ Lexington-Richland Five
▪ Sumter County schools
▪ Fairfield County schools
▪ Kershaw County schools
“In an abundance of caution, Lexington County School District One is canceling school,” district officials said in a news release. “Expected wind gusts of over 30 miles per hour throughout the afternoon Thursday could create conditions that would be unsafe for school buses, student drivers, parents and staff.”
Richland Two issued a similar statement, adding “all schools and offices will be closed, and all before-school and after-school activities and all district activities are canceled.”
In addition to classes, Richland One said after school programs and activities, including athletics games and practices, are canceled. That also includes the postponement of Richland One’s College and Career Fair, which was scheduled for Thursday at the Carolina Coliseum, school officials said in a news release.
Lexington One, Lexington Three and Richland Two similarly reported all after school activities have also been cancelled.
No plans for Friday’s classes have been made, Richland One officials said.
“Lexington County School District Three’s highest priority every single day is the safety of our students and staff,” officials said in a news release.
In eight of South Carolina’s coastal counties — Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry and Jasper — all state government offices and schools already have closed. For a list of updated state closings, click here.
Hurricane Dorian is forecast to bring heavy rain and powerful wind to the Midlands, beginning Wednesday night and through Thursday.
Bamberg, Orangeburg, Calhoun, Clarendon, Sumter, and Lee counties are all under a tropical storm warning, according to the National Weather Service.
This is a developing story, check back for more updates.
This story was originally published September 4, 2019 at 5:58 PM.
