Birmingham Metro Schools Dismiss Early Ahead Of Weather Threat

BIRMINGHAM, AL — With an enhanced risk of severe weather issued for a portion of the state, several Birmingham metro school systems have opted for early dismissal and cancellation of after school activities Thursday.

School systems reporting schedule adjustments include:

• Advent Episcopal School: closing at 4 p.m.
• Banks Academy: Closing at 12:15 p.m. Thursday
• Bessemer Academy: Schools will dismiss at 1:00 p.m.
• Bessemer City Schools: All elementary schools and Bessemer City Middle School dismiss at 12:00 p.m., Bessemer City High School dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
• Bevill State Community College: All locations closing at 12 p.m. Thursday
• Birmingham City Schools: Elementary, middle, K-8 school dismiss at 1 p.m., high school dismiss at 1:30 p.m. All after school care and after school activities canceled
• Fairfield City Schools: Elementary schools dismiss at 11:30 a.m., high school dismiss at 12:00 p.m.
• Jefferson County Schools: All after school activities canceled
• Mountain Brook Schools: All after school activities canceled
• Shelby County Schools: All school dismiss at 2 p.m., after school activities canceled
• Highlands School: All after school activities canceled.
• Vestavia Hills City Schools: Extended Day Program canceled
• Hoover City Schools: Schools will dismiss an hour early

This list will be updated as more schools report.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham reported Thursday morning that strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon and evening. The Storm Prediction Center maintains an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) of severe thunderstorms for parts of north and west Alabama, west of a line from Hytop to Hueytown to Demopolis.

A slight risk (level 2) extends as far east as Anniston, Prattville and Grove Hill, and the rest of the state (east and south Alabama) is in a marginal risk (level 1).

"We have a few thunderstorms across northwest Alabama early this morning, but in terms of the severe weather threat, the main window in the enhanced risk area is from 2 until 8 p.m.," meteorologist James Spann said. "For the slight risk area (places like Birmingham, Anniston and Gadsden), the main window comes from 4 until 11 p.m., and for the marginal risk area in east and south Alabama the window is from 6 p.m. until 4 a.m."

Spann said stronger storms will be capable of producing hail, strong winds and a few tornadoes. The highest tornado threat is in the enhanced risk area across north and west Alabama, and a strong tornado (EF-2 or higher) is possible.

"Amounts will be generally 1 to 1.5 inches for most of the state over the next 24 hours," Spann said. "Flooding is not expected since the storms will be moving along at a good clip."

Storm shelters in Jefferson County now open include:

• Warrior Storm Shelter 309 Trafford Road
• North Smithfield Manor Storm Shelter 4533 Hudson Avenue North in Birmingham
• Pleasant Grove Storm Shelter 464 7th Avenue
• McAdory Storm Shelter 4400 Harper Road in Bessemer
• Adger Storm Shelter 7276 Johns Road