ATLANTA — Helene officially became a hurricane on Wednesday and is expected to continue to gain strength as it travels over the Gulf of Mexico.
While landfall should occur in Florida's Big Bend region sometime Thursday, it will likely be after midnight and in the early morning hours of Friday that Georgia sees an impact..
Ahead of Helene's arrival, many school districts in Georgia have said they're monitoring the situation and it's possible several will cancel school on Friday, the morning of the storm's arrival. Already for Thursday night, many high school football games have been rescheduled.
We're monitoring for school closings and statements by school districts that update their status. This page will track the viewing area around metro Atlanta and north Georgia, for closings farther south you can check in with 11Alive's Macon sister station WMAZ.
Keep in mind, some districts (among them Cobb County and City of Decatur Schools) are on Fall Break and won't be having school Friday anyway.
Metro Atlanta and north Georgia school closings ahead of Helene
Closed
- Gordon County Schools: Closed for Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27.
- Banks County Schools: Closed for Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27.
Online/remote learning
- Hall County School District: The district said it will conduct school from home both Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27. Extracurricular events for Thursday and Friday are canceled/postponed.
- Union County Schools: The district announced at-home learning days for both students and staff on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27. All extracurricular activities are also canceled through the weekend.
- Polk County School District: Learn-from-home days are set for Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27. A decision on extracurricular activities for Friday and Saturday "will be announced at a later time."
- Fannin County School System: Announced it will operate on a virtual learning day schedule for Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27. Extracurricular activities are canceled.
- Towns County Schools: Will operate on a virtual learning day for Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27.
Monitoring the situation
Several districts have already prepared students and parents for possible closures by announcing their awareness of the coming storm. Those include:
- Clarke County School District: Said it is "working in coordination with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to closely monitor the storm and any potential disruption it may cause to our daily school operations."
- Madison County School District: Said it is "working with our local emergency management officials and are closely monitoring the incoming weather situation and the impact it could have on our area."
- Coweta County School System: Said it is monitoring and "we anticipate sending parents a weather advisory later this afternoon."
- Troup County School System: Said it was working closely with the county emergency management to monitor weather. "As the path becomes more clear, we will update you with decisions," a Facebook post said.
- Bartow County School System: Said it is "carefully monitoring weather conditions ahead of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene and will keep you updated as decisions are made."
- Floyd County Schools: Said it is "diligently tracking information from state and local emergency management bodies, in addition to the National Weather Service, concerning the possible effects of Tropical Storm Helene on our region."
- Rome City Schools: Said it is "actively monitoring updates from state and local emergency management agencies."
- Pike County Public Schools: Said it was "closely monitoring the weather over the next few days to ensure the safety of our students and staff."
- Monroe County Schools: Said it attended a briefing with the National Weather Service and that, "We will continue to monitor the storm’s projected path and will update you as it gets closer. "
- Putnam County Charter School System: Said it is "closely monitoring the potential for severe weather in our area and remains in contact with local and state agencies relative to the approaching storm."
- Morgan County Charter Schools: Said it is "closely monitoring the weather and the potential impact of Helene on our area."
- Rabun County Schools: Said it is "closely monitoring Hurricane Helene in collaboration with local and regional authorities."
- Murray County Schools: Advised the community to sign up for the district app for alerts and notifications.
Other actions
- Clayton County Public Schools: Canceled athletic events for Wednesday and Thursday. No indication of a school closure at this time.