BREAKING: CMS moves to online school tomorrow
With high winds and rain expected, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools closes buildings and moves to online learning; other cancellations stacking up
Good morning! Today is Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, and we’re coming to you with HOT BREAKING NEWS.
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In-person classes canceled as Charlotte region moves under a tropical storm warning; heavier winds now expected for Friday
by Cristina Bolling and Steve Lyttle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will move to online learning Friday, as the projected impact from Hurricane Ian worsened today, putting the region under a tropical storm warning.
In a message to families, district officials said students who haven’t been assigned a digital device may get take-home packets from their teacher today, and principals will announce Friday’s attendance requirements to families.
It wasn’t clear from the announcement whether students will attend classes live over Zoom, or asynchronously. All CMS services and activities are canceled through Sunday, officials said.
Prepare for severe weather: Around midday today, a tropical storm warning was issued for much of the Charlotte region — a sign that Hurricane Ian (it’ll become a hurricane again) is headed in our direction Friday, with enough wind and rain to cause problems. A flood watch hasn’t been issued yet for our area, but that’s likely to come later today.
As of 3 p.m. today, here’s a summary of what you need to know:
◼️THE BASICS: Ian is back in the Atlantic, and satellite photos show it is re-strengthening quickly. It is forecast to move along the warm Gulf Stream waters and become a 75 mph hurricane again before making landfall Friday somewhere around or north of Charleston.
◼️THE TIMING: Winds today are partially due to Ian. But the rain should arrive shortly after daybreak and increase in intensity by late morning. The worst of the conditions are likely from midday Friday until before or around daybreak Saturday.
◼️THE TRACK: The National Hurricane Center still predicts Ian will move inland and pass somewhere in the Charlotte area. It is predicted to be a tropical storm until somewhere near Charlotte, when it weakens to tropical depression status.
◼️THE WINDS: We’re now expecting sustained winds of 25-30 mph, with gusts to 55-60 mph. The Hurricane Center specifically noted a short time ago that Ian will have rather unusual characteristics over the Carolinas, in that winds on the northwest side of the center (as it approaches us) will be stronger than usual for a tropical system.
◼️RAINFALL: We’re still expecting 3-6 inches of rain.
◼️FLASH FLOODING: It will be likely, despite our recent dry weather.
◼️POWER OUTAGES: Wet ground and gusts to 60 mph equal a significant threat of power outages. We’re likely to see them in the thousands, if winds exceed 50 mph.
Other cancellations: Lancaster County schools in South Carolina are also moving to virtual school on Friday, and it’s likely that other local school districts will also follow suit.
This afternoon, Carowinds announced that it will be closed on Friday.
Related Ledger article: “Weather Extra: Heaviest downpours will be Friday” (published at 11:25 a.m. today)
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project