Officials at public and private schools along the Eastern Seaboard are already making decisions about closings and delays for Tuesday as a winter storm brings heavy snow and slick roads to several states.
The newly announced closings follow a slew of schools that closed early on Monday as the storm delivered snow and treacherous travel to the region. As of Monday evening, winter storm warnings and weather advisories remained in place in Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. National Weather Service (NWS) senior meteorologist Alec Butner told Newsweek it was a little early in the season for this amount of snow. Some schools within the affected areas have decided to close their doors for Tuesday because of concerns over hazardous travel.
“Due to the significant snowfall in our area and the resulting travel concerns, Fuqua School will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, December 9th. All classes, after-school activities, and events are canceled,” Virginia’s Fuqua School posted to Facebook on Monday afternoon. “The safety of our students, families, faculty, and staff is our highest priority. Please stay safe, stay warm, and use caution if you must travel. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus as soon as conditions improve.”
As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, the following schools have announced closings or delays.
Virginia
In Virginia, several public and private schools have closed for Tuesday.
- Amelia County Public Schools
- Dinwiddie County Public Schools
- Fuqua School
- Prince Edward County Public Schools
North Carolina
In Eastern North Carolina, several schools have already announced two-hour delays for Tuesday.
- Beaufort County Schools
- Pamlico County Schools
- Onslow County Schools
Most schools cited transportation challenges in altering the schedules. NWS meteorologists urged people to stay home until the worst of the storm had passed.
“Persons should delay all travel if possible,” NWS Blacksburg, Virginia, said in a winter storm warning. “If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility. Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order.”
Most winter storm warnings were set to expire by Monday night, but some weather advisories stretched into the early hours of Tuesday.
The advisories warned of slippery road conditions and several inches of snow that could affect commutes.
