JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As a rare winter storm moves closer to Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, school and county officials are preparing for ice that could make it dangerous to drive on the road.
MORE | A rare winter storm will threaten North Florida and beyond with ice and snow. What you need to know
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Many Southeast Georgia school districts on Monday announced closures for Wednesday, and on Tuesday, Columbia County schools was the first Florida district in our area to announce closures for Wednesday, then others followed, including the school district in Duval County.
Here’s what we know so far:
Northeast Florida
Duval County
According to the Florida Department of Education website, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) will be closed on Wednesday, including athletics and after-school activities.
All regularly scheduled athletic and extracurricular activities taking place on Tuesday will continue as planned.
Columbia County
“Due to the expected wintry weather, all schools and offices will close by 4:30 PM today (Tuesday) and remain closed on Wednesday for the safety of our students and staff. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Tuesday (Today): All after school programs including 21st Century Program will close at 4:30 PM.
All extracurricular activities (including practices, games, and matches) are canceled.
Five Points Town Hall has been moved up to 4:00 PM today.
Wednesday (January 22, 2025): No school.
All extracurricular activities are canceled (no practices, games, matches, or events).
Eastside Elementary Town Hall has been rescheduled to Thursday at 4:00 PM.
Thursday (January 23, 2025):
Melrose Park Elementary Town Hall will remain at 5:30 PM as scheduled.
Schools are anticipated to reopen unless further weather conditions warrant a change.
Reopening Update: We anticipate reopening schools on Thursday, January 23, but will provide a final confirmation in a follow-up update on Wednesday.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and community. Please stay safe, and we will continue to provide updates."
Baker County
“After speaking with local law enforcement and other agencies, I have made the decision to cancel school on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, out of an abundance of caution. Based on the current weather forecast, we could experience conditions that make driving on the roads unsafe. We will resume school on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Stay safe and warm,” Superintendent Wyatt Milton said in a message to parents.
Nassau County
“All Nassau schools and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Additionally, all after-school activities scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 2025, are canceled.
The safety of our students, staff, and families is our top priority. We are working closely with Nassau Emergency Management to monitor conditions and will share updates as they become available.
For more information, visit our website: Nassau.k12.fl.us or follow us here."
St. Johns County
St. Johns County Schools announced Tuesday it will observe normal operations on Wednesday.
“We will continue to work with the SJC Emergency Operations Center and staff to monitor the weather and will relay any changes to our operations through this mass-notification system,” school officials wrote.
Bradford County
“Schools and District Offices will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 22 and reopen Thursday, Jan. 23. Stay warm and safe Tornadoes!”
Putnam County
Putnam County School District officials said all schools and departments will be closed on Wednesday. Individual schools will notify families if Tuesday evening activities are canceled.
Schools will resume as scheduled on Thursday.
“Please ensure students are dressed warmly for bus rides and outdoor activities,” the district wrote.
Union County
Due to the winter weather advisories and a high chance of icy road conditions making travel unsafe beginning Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., the Union County School District will be closed on Wednesday.
The district will re-open on Thursday and resume all normal activities.
All after-school activities on Tuesday will conclude no later than 5 p.m.
Clay County
Clay County District Schools announced all schools and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
District officials said it plans to resume normal operations on Thursday, Jan. 23. Details regarding a make-up day for the missed instructional hours will be communicated in the near future.
Alachua County
“All Alachua County Public Schools and district offices will be CLOSED Wednesday, Jan. 22, due to the winter storm. Extracurricular activities are canceled.Schools/offices are expected to reopen Thursday, Jan. 23. Updates at https://sbac.edu. Stay safe!"
Southeast Georgia
Camden County
Schools are open on Tuesday.
Due to the forecasted winter weather conditions (potential wintry mix, icy roads, below freezing temperatures, and low wind chill temperatures), schools will be closed on Wednesday.
All schools and offices will be closed for the safety of students and staff.
All afterschool activities for Tuesday and Wednesday will be canceled.
The district will provide an update on Wednesday after it assesses the readiness of roads and buildings for reopening on Thursday.
Brantley County
The Brantley County School System said Monday that schools are open on Tuesday, but will dismiss early at 2 p.m.
Schools will be closed on Wednesday because of an increased probability of ice on the roads, beginning Tuesday evening.
Ware County
Ware County Schools said Monday it will release students and staff 90 minutes early on Tuesday, and all schools will remain closed on Wednesday.
All afterschool activities are canceled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Daffodil Pre-K will release at 12:45 p.m., and elementary schools will follow at 1 p.m. The high school will release at 1:38 p.m., and both middle schools will release at 2 p.m.
“We will continue to monitor weather conditions and will provide updates regarding school schedules for the remainder of the week as more information becomes available. Please ensure you have a plan for the early release on Tuesday, and stay tuned to our official channels for updates,” the district wrote.
Glynn County
Based on the latest forecast for wintry weather conditions and discussions with local emergency management officials, Glynn County Schools will remain open on Tuesday.
However, all extracurricular activities and after-school programs will conclude by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Due to potential hazards such as black ice on roadways, impacts to power lines and trees, and freeze advisories forecasted for Tuesday night, all schools will be closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
Updates will be communicated through ParentSquare, the district website, Facebook page, and media partners.
Stay informed about the weather conditions by following updates from the Glynn County Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.
Pierce County
Schools in Pierce County will release early on Tuesday and close on Wednesday and there will be no after-school activities on either day.
Early dismissal times are 1 p.m. for elementary schools, 2:15 p.m. for the middle school and 2:30 p.m. for the high school.
Charlton County
Officials in Charlton County said schools will be open and on regular schedule on Tuesday.
However, all after-school activities on Tuesday are canceled.
In addition, schools will be closed for all students and staff on Wednesday.
Schools are scheduled to be open and on a regular schedule on Thursday, Jan. 23.
More schools in Florida counties set to close
School districts in other areas of the state are set to close. Here’s a list from the Florida Department of Education:
K-12 School Closures
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
- Bay County Schools
- Calhoun County Schools
- Escambia County Schools
- Franklin County Schools
- Gulf County Schools
- Holmes County Schools
- Jackson County Schools
- Jefferson County Schools (1:00 p.m.)
- Leon County Schools (closing one hour early)
- Liberty County Schools
- Madison County Schools (early release)
- Okaloosa County Schools
- Santa Rosa County Schools
- Walton County Schools
- Washington County Schools
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
- Alachua County Schools
- Baker County Schools
- Bay County Schools
- Bradford County Schools
- Calhoun County Schools
- Columbia County Schools
- Dixie County Schools
- Duval County Schools
- Escambia County Schools
- Florida A&M University DRS
- Franklin County Schools
- Gadsden County Schools
- Gilchrist County Schools
- Gulf County Schools
- Hamilton County Schools
- Holmes County Schools
- Jackson County Schools
- Jefferson County Schools
- Lafayette County Schools
- Liberty County Schools
- Leon County Schools
- Levy County Schools
- Madison County Schools
- Nassau County Schools
- Okaloosa County Schools
- Santa Rosa County Schools
- Suwannee County Schools
- Taylor County Schools
- Wakulla County Schools
- Walton County Schools
- Washington County Schools
Thursday, January 23, 2025
- Madison County Schools
Florida College System Closures
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
- Chipola College
- Gulf Coast State College (12:00 p.m.)
- North Florida College (3:00 p.m.)
- Northwest Florida State College
- Pensacola State College
- Tallahassee State College
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
- Chipola College
- Florida Gateway College
- Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Gulf Coast State College
- North Florida College
- Northwest Florida State College
- Pensacola State College
- Santa Fe College
- Tallahassee State College
State University Closures
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
- Florida A&M University
- Florida State University
- University of West Florida
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
- Florida A&M University
- Florida State University
- University of Florida (opening at 12:30 p.m.)
- University of North Florida
- University of West Florida
Division of Blind Services Closures
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
- Bay County (Panama City Beach) (11:00 a.m.)
- Escambia County (Pensacola)
- Leon County (Turlington/Tallahassee) (1:00 p.m.)
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
- Bay County (Panama City Beach)
- Escambia County (Pensacola)
- Alachua County (Gainesville)
- Duval County (Jacksonville)
- Leon County (Turlington/Tallahassee)
Vocational Rehabilitation Office Closures
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
- Bay County (11:00 a.m.)
- Escambia County
- Jackson County (11:00 a.m.)
- Leon County (1:00 p.m.)
- Okaloosa County
- Santa Rosa County
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
- Bay County
- Escambia County
- Jackson County
- Leon County
- Okaloosa County
- Santa Rosa County
