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Weather forecast prompts Thursday school closure
Both the Franklin County Schools and the Apalachicola Bay Charter School will be closed on Thursday, March 31 due to a possible thunderstorm.
“Out of an abundance of caution, Superintendent (Steve) Lanier and school officials have decided to cancel school…. due to incoming bad weather,” read the distrcct’s Facebook page. “The safety of our students and staff remain at the forefront of all decisions.
“We encourage our families to follow guidance from our local emergency management and check local new stations for updates,” it read. “We do not anticipate the weather to cause interruption of school on Friday and will continue to update our parents through our call out system and Facebook.”
The National Weather Service is forecasting a 90 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3 p.m., with some of the storms possibly severe. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches are possible.
A news release from Franklin County Emergency Department, said weather will hit the county between 9 a.m. and noon Thursday, as a strong storm system moves across the mid-South and approaches the region Wednesday night. It said that some of these storms could be significant with a possibility of long tracked tornadoes and destructive winds in excess of 75 mph.
Recent heavy rainfall can cause the ground to be saturated, which along with the strong winds can cause trees to fall.
This system will also produce 2 to 4 feet of storm surge throughout the county with the higher amounts on the eastern side of the county. These totals include high tide.
Alligator Point Road will have a possibility of washout. If you decide to shelter in place, be sure to make preparations for all essential needs including food, water, medication, pet needs, etc.
There will also be an increased chance of rip crrents and dangerous surf, possibly as high as 6 top 9 feet. Pay close attention to all beach flags. If red flags are flying stay out of the water.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.