After-School Activities Canceled in Sarasota County

SARASOTA, FL — Thanks to the potential for heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Hermine, Sarasota County Schools has announced the cancellation of all after-school extracurricular activities Thursday, Sept. 1.

The closings were announced just before 2 p.m. Thursday. After-school care at elementary schools will proceed as normal, the district wrote in an email to media.

“Parents, student and others are urged to exercise caution while driving, crossing streets, approaching and leaving schools, and other travel that may be affected by rain and other weather conditions,” the district wrote.

The National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Hermine was located about 190 miles west of Tampa at 1 p.m. Thursday. The storm was kicking up maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and was moving on a north-northeast track at 14 mph.

As of Thursday afternoon, hurricane center forecasters anticipated Tropical Storm Hermine would gain hurricane strength before making landfall. Tropical storm force winds are extending outward from the storm up to 185 miles to the northeast and southeast of the center, forecasters say.

As of the 1 p.m. update from the hurricane center, the tropical storm warning had been extended south along Florida's west coast to Englewood, including the Tampa Bay area. It was also extended south along the east coast to include the Flagler and Volusia County line.

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