Midlands Braces for Severe Weather: School Closures and E-Learning Set For Tuesday

The Midlands region is bracing for heavy rain and intense storms on Tuesday, prompting several schools to take precautionary measures, including closures, cancellations, and the implementation of e-learning days. As overnight showers and breezy conditions set in, a First Alert Weather Day has been declared for Tuesday afternoon, with the possibility of isolated tornadoes accompanying a line of afternoon storms.

A shift in weather patterns as a robust cold front approaches the area, bringing with it the potential for severe storms. Expect heavy rain, damaging straight-line wind gusts up to 55 mph, and the chance of brief tornadoes. Approximately 1-2 inches of rain is expected across most of the Midlands.

Wednesday signals a drying-out period, though winds will persist, gradually calming down later in the day. Looking ahead to the end of the week, another low-pressure system is forecasted to bring additional rainfall on Friday.

The impact of these weather conditions has led several school districts to announce closures and adjustments to their schedules. Here is a summary of the school district responses:

Clarendon County School District:

• E-learning day.
• Student work will be available on Google Classroom.
• All school activities and parent/teacher conferences are canceled.

Calhoun County School District:

• E-learning day.
• No afterschool activities.
• Two-hour delay on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Fairfield County School District:

• E-learning day.

Kershaw County School District:

• E-learning day.
• Teachers will post assignments in Canvas or provide paper packets.
• Remote work with specific virtual office hours for teachers.

Lee County School District:

• E-learning day.

Lexington County School District One:

• E-learning day.
• All afterschool activities and sports canceled.
• Time allowed for students who may experience power loss.

Lexington County School District Two:

• E-learning day.
• Cancellation of all afternoon and evening activities, including athletic events and adult education classes.

Lexington County School District Three:

• E-learning day.
• All afterschool activities canceled.
• Teachers will post assignments in Google Classroom or use paper packets.

Lexington-Richland School District Five:

• E-learning day.
• Teachers will post assignments to Google Classroom or Seesaw accounts.
• Afterschool programs and athletic events on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, are canceled or rescheduled.
• Normal operations anticipated to resume on Wednesday for “A” day classes.

Richland County School District One:

• E-learning day for students, work-from-home day for employees.
• All schools and administrative buildings closed.
• Cancellation of all afterschool activities.

Richland School District Two:

• E-learning/remote work day.
• Closure of all school buildings and district facilities.
• Cancellation of all after-school activities.
• Asynchronous instruction provided to students.

Sumter School District:

• E-learning day for students and staff.
• Lessons and assignments posted in Schoology.
• All school activities, including athletic events and field trips, are canceled.

Saluda County School District:

• E-learning day.
• Cancellation of all sporting events and practices.

Orangeburg County School District:

• E-learning day.
• Cancellation of all afterschool programs and athletic events.
• Two-hour delay for schools on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

The article also includes closure information for Richland Library, South Carolina State University, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, emphasizing the widespread impact of the anticipated severe weather.

Check for other closures here.