With severe weather threatening again, Lexington County schools to dismiss early Friday

Here we blow again. With the National Weather Service predicting a second day of severe weather this week, on Friday from 3 to 11 p.m., all Lexington County school districts are shifting to a half-day schedule for the day.

Per Lexington County School District 1, local schools have been informed that wind gusts will increase to over 40 miles per hour starting around 3-4 p.m., with a possibility of severe thunderstorms following around 4-8 p.m. “S.C. Department of Education transportation officials recommend limiting school bus operations in these conditions,” the district said.

The National Weather Service said “an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out,” and lightning and hail are also potential threats with the weather that will roll through on Friday.

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, when winds and severe weather previously impacted the area, including tornados that touched down near Chapin and close by to the Lexington County area in Bamberg, all school districts in the county shifted to e-learning for the day.

The county’s school districts have announced the following schedules for Friday:

• Lexington County School District 1
  • Elementary schools (including full-day preschool classes) dismiss at 11:20 a.m. Pre-school half-day classes, both morning and afternoon sessions, are canceled.
  • Middle schools: All middle schools, except Gilbert Middle, dismiss at 12:05 p.m. Gilbert Middle dismisses at 12:15 p.m.
  • High schools: Lexington, White Knoll, and River Bluff dismiss at 12:45 p.m. Pelion and Gilbert dismiss at 12:25 p.m.
• Lexington County School District 2
  • Elementary schools will release at 1 p.m. Middle and high schools will release at 2 p.m. All afternoon and evening activities are canceled. Adult education classes are canceled.
• Lexington County School District 3
  • Batesburg-Leesville Primary School will dismiss students at 11:00 a.m. Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School will dismiss students at 11:15 a.m. Batesburg-Leesville Middle School will dismiss students at 11:45 a.m. Batesburg-Leesville High School will dismiss students at 12 p.m.