Midlands schools dismissing students early because of severe weather, wet roads
With severe weather forecast to affect the Midlands Thursday, several area schools have adjusted their schedules.
Powerful and dangerous storms are expected to impact the Columbia area, the National Weather Service said.
Severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flooding are all possible, with the most activity predicted between Thursday afternoon and evening, according to the forecast.
▪ Richland County School District One will dismiss students early, spokeswoman Karen York said in a news release. High schools will dismiss at 11 a.m.; elementary schools will dismiss at noon; and middle schools will dismiss at 1 p.m., according to York.
▪ Richland Two is dismissing students early. Middle schools will be released at 12:30 p.m., elementary schools at 1:15 p.m., and high schools at 2 p.m., according to a news release.
▪ Lexington Two also announced early dismissal because of the severe weather. Elementary schools will be released at 11 a.m., with middle and high schools letting students out at noon, according to a tweet.
▪ Lexington One will have an early release, according to school officials. Elementary schools will dismiss at 11:15 a.m., while middle and high schools will dismiss at 12:15 p.m.
▪ Lexington Three is dismissing students from its primary school at 11:30 a.m., from elementary school at 11:45 a.m., from middle school at 12:15 p.m., and high school at 12:30 p.m.
▪ Lexington Richland Five is dismissing elementary and intermediate schools at 11:15 a.m., technical schools by noon, middle schools at 12:15 p.m., and high schools at 12:25 p.m.
▪ Lexington Four will dismiss elementary schools at 10:45 a.m., and all other schools by noon, according to a news release.
▪ Sumter School District said it will dismiss all elementary schools at 1 p.m., middle schools at 1:45 p.m., and high schools at 2:30 p.m.
▪ Orangeburg County Schools will have early release for elementary schools at 11 a.m., in addition to middle and high schools at 11:30 a.m. Claflin University and South Carolina State University, both located in Orangeburg, will close at 1 and 2 p.m. respectively.
The City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department along with Newberry and Fairfield schools, and all of the previously listed school districts have canceled after-school programs, events and activities, officials said.
The South Carolina State Museum will close at 2 p.m. and is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. Friday.
The Columbia Art Center Worlds of Creativity program and the Black History Month Movie Series at Busby Street Community Center have also been canceled.
Richland County Transportation has canceled its meeting on the North Main Street widening project.
“The decision to cancel afternoon and evening programs and activities was made in consultation with local and county emergency management officials,” Lexington Two spokeswoman Dawn Kujawa said in a news release.
Richland Two spokeswoman Libby Roof said the district will monitor the storms and said it might dismiss school early Thursday, and warned families to be prepared for that possibility.
Included with the after-school activities canceled are all athletic events and practices, according to York.
The list of cancellations at Lexington One included “all daytime and evening meetings and events scheduled to take place at any district school, performing arts center, ... adult education classes, school or district-related meetings,” spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill said in a release.
The schedule changes are being made “out of an abundance of caution for the safety of students, staff and parents,” Sumter officials said.
“District leaders will continue to monitor the weather and road conditions closely,” Lexington Richland Five officials said.
The City of Columbia is also warning drivers to avoid flood-prone areas. Intersections with a history of flooding include:
▪ Main and Whaley
▪ Gervais and Laurens
▪ Blossom and Henderson
▪ Blossom and Saluda
▪ Harden and Santee
▪ Monroe and Maple
▪ Two Notch and Read
▪ Wheat and Amherst
▪ Adger and Devine
▪ Wheat and Sumter
▪ Wheat and Pickens
▪ Heyward and Ravenel
▪ Pickens between Wheat and Green
▪ Barnwell and Pendleton
▪ Harden and Read
▪ Harden and Calhoun
▪ Franklin and Marion
▪ Franklin and Sumter
▪ Columbia College and N. Main
▪ Bull and Laurel
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is warning drivers to take the wet and windy conditions into consideration.
“As more rain moves in, SLOW down and limit your distractions,” Master Trooper David Jones said on Twitter. “Never drive through any flooded roads.”
“(Be) watchful for flooded roadways, give yourself extra stopping distance and remember that if your windshield wipers are on, your headlights should be as well,” the Lexington Police Department tweeted.
The University of South Carolina is telling commuters parked in flood-prone areas of campus to move their cars. The gates are up and will remain open at Athletics Village, Blossom Street, Bull Street, and Senate Street garages until the threat of flooding ends, according to USC.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 7:58 AM.
