Hurricane Irma: Hillsborough County Schools Closed Until Sept. 18

TAMPA, FL — Hurricane Irma knocked out power for two-thirds of the state of Florida, and Hillsborough County schools students are getting a bit more time off than expected. Schools are expected to reopen on Monday, Sept. 18, granted that power has been restored to the area.

The school system sent out a press release, saying "After a detailed update from TECO Energy at the county's Emergency Operations Center, Superintendent Jeff Eakins has moved school opening in Hillsborough County to Monday, September 18, when all schools should have power."

“As the largest employer in Hillsborough County, the district recognizes our families need time to prepare their homes and activate their personal family plans,” the district said in an email as Irma approached the Florida coast. “The district must also prep school campuses; some to become shelters.”

The district has also cancelled all extracurricular activities and after-school programs for Thursday and Friday. Decisions about possible school closures for next week will be made over the weekend. (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Tampa Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Watch: Another Powerful Hurricane Is Taking Aim At The US

Hurricane Irma was on a collision course with the Virgin Islands late Wednesday morning, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 mph. The potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm’s track shifted in the overnight hours to include almost the entire Florida Peninsula. Her projected path shows has her impacting the Florida peninsula late in the weekend and early on Monday.

• Also see: Hurricane Irma Closing In On Florida

As of Wednesday morning, hurricane-force winds extended out from Irma by 50 miles from the center. Tropical storm-force winds were extending outward by 185 miles.

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While it’s still too early to tell the precise impacts Irma might have on Florida or the United States, forecasters say she bears close monitoring. Irma is expected to remain a major hurricane through the week. The threat Irma poses to Florida prompted Gov. Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency on Monday. The declaration includes all 67 counties within the Sunshine State.

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