LOOK HERE: Schools, districts adjust schedules Thursday because of severe weather threat

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - As the threat of severe weather looms for much of the state, including the Lowcountry into Thursday evening, schools and colleges are announcing schedule changes ahead of that threat.

Here is a list of the latest schedule changes, early dismissals and cancellations:

• BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Beaufort County schools will dismiss one hour early. Elementary schools will dismiss at 1:45 p.m. while K-8, middle and high schools will dismiss at 2:45 p.m. All after-school extracurricular activities and events are canceled. School after-care programs will operate on normal schedules, but parents should pick up their after-care students as soon as possible after dismissal.
• BERKELEY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Students in after-school care and students participating in after school activities will need to be picked up by 5:30 p.m. to allow school administrators and staff to ensure that campuses are clear by 6 p.m.
• CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Students in after-school care must be picked up by 5:30 p.m.
• THE CITADEL: All Thursday evening classes are canceled. Online classes will continue as scheduled. For the Corps of Cadets, services will continue to be provided at Coward Hall on the normal schedule. Classes will resume as scheduled on Friday.
• COLLETON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: All after-school events are canceled for Thursday. District spokesman Sean Gruber said the district anticipates a strong line of thunderstorms to move through their area between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. "This line of storms could produce tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds in excess of 58 mph, and heavy rain,” he said in a statement announcing the cancellation.
• DORCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT 2: DD2 will cancel after-school events and extended day programs at elementary schools will close at 5 p.m.
• DORCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT 4: DD4 schools will dismiss early because of the threat of severe weather on Thursday. Elementary schools will be released at 11:30 a.m. followed by middle schools at 12:15 p.m. and Woodland High School will be released at 12:30 p.m. All after school programs have been canceled as well.
• GEORGETOWN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Because of the impending severe weather threat, all after-school activities are canceled or postponed.
• ORANGEBURG-CALHOUN TECHNICAL COLLEGE: Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College canceled all classes beginning at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The college closed at 4 p.m. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the college’s new nursing building, which was originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon, has been postponed. Classes will resume their normal schedule Friday.
• TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE: The campus will close at 4 p.m. Thursday. Classes in session at 4 p.m. will be dismissed at that time. Any classes scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. or later are canceled. The Big Band Concert scheduled for Thursday night on Thornley Campus has also been canceled. The college plans to operate on a normal schedule on Friday.

The following business and government closings have been announced.

• CHARLESTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY: The Charleston County Public Library will close its West Ashley branch at South Windermere at 4 p.m. because of the severe weather threat. All other branches will close at 6 p.m. All book drops will also be closed, but overdue fines will be waived during the closure period.
• CITY OF CHARLESTON: Charleston Recreation Department games, programs and activities scheduled for 5 p.m. and later this evening have been canceled, and all Recreation facilities and buildings will close at 6 p.m. The City of Charleston will activate the Public Safety Operation Center at 4:30 p.m. to manage the city’s response during and after the storm.
• WALTERBORO’s FIRST THURSDAY: First Thurdsay has been canceled.

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The Live 5 First Alert Weather team named Thursday a First Alert Weather Day because of the threat of storms, some of which may be strong to severe, moving in from the west. The highest threat of severe weather will be from I-95 west toward Augusta and Columbia, Live 5 Meteorologist Joey Sovine said.

A few showers are possible into the early afternoon with a line of storms moving in Thursday night through 3 a.m. Friday, he said.

Damaging wind gusts are a main threat. Forecasters cannot rule out the possibility of a tornado from this system.

Check back for updates to this story.

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