DeKalb County Schools: Winter Weather Impacts Schedule on Friday, Jan. 6

DECATUR, GA -- Classes will be released two hours early on Friday and all evening and weekend activities canceled at DeKalb County schools as a winter storm approaches metro Atlanta, the district announced late Thursday.

Winter weather advisories are in effect across large swaths of the South as winter storm Helena is poised to bring rain, snow and sleet to the region this weekend.

"In response to inclement winter weather conditions and after conferring with local school districts in metro Atlanta, Superintendent Dr. R. Stephen Green has canceled all Friday, January 6, evening and weekend school activities for the DeKalb County School District," the district said in a news release.

Read more: Metro Atlanta weekend weather forecast: Snow, rain & more

Forecasts on Thursday called for plunging temperatures over the weekend as the likelihood of snow increased. By mid-afternoon, meteorologists were saying the most likely scenario is for rain and snow Friday afternoon to be replaced by all snow Friday night and Saturday morning.

DeKalb Schools said that Friday afternoon care programs will go on as normal.

Read more: Air travel being adjusted ahead of winter blast

Patch.com's Doug Gross contributed to this report | Image via Pixabay