Winter Storm Warning In The CSRA – Tuesday and Wednesday
Starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, a winter storm warning goes into effect for Columbia, Richmond, Aiken, Burke, McDuffie, and Warren counties. The warning will be in effect until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with 1 to 3 inches of total accumulation predicted.
According to WJBF, the chance of seeing snow is more likely closer to 5 p.m. After 1 a.m. on Wednesday, precipitation should cease, but roads will be slick. Any precipitation isn’t expected to melt quickly. Snow and any rain that falls are expected to freeze as temperatures remain below freezing overnight.
Sunshine and above-freezing temperatures will return Wednesday afternoon, which will lead to melting.
School Closings, Delays, Early Dismissals
USC Aiken: Change Announced
USC Aiken will transition to remote operations at noon today. All in-person activities scheduled after that time have been postponed.
Another update regarding Wednesday campus operations and instruction will be provided around 4:00 pm today.
Edgefield County: Change Announced
Instead of holding classes in-person all day today as previously announced, students will have early dismissal
- 11:00 am–Elementary schools
- 11:45 am–Middle schools
- 12:00 pm–High school
All after-school activities have been cancelled. School district officials say they anticipate an eLearning day for Wednesday, but a decision will be made and announced later this morning.
Students will be served breakfast and lunch today. Food will be sent home with students today if an eLearning is scheduled for Wednesday.
- University of Georgia: Closing at 2 pm today
School Closings, Delays for Wednesday
McDuffie County
- Learn From Home on Wednesday. Students received assignments and instructions on Friday and prior to leaving school today.
Columbia County Schools
- The Columbia County School District will be closed on Wednesday. All after-school activities are also cancelled.
Aiken County Schools
- All Aiken County Public Schools will transition to e-learning and a remote workday Wednesday. A decision on operations for Thursday will be announced by 4 pm Wednesday.
Richmond County Schools
The Richmond County School System (RCSS) will continue with a PowerUp Asynchronous Learning Day schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 22, due to forecasted inclement weather. This decision follows continued monitoring of updates from the National Weather Service and collaboration with emergency management officials.
All extracurricular activities scheduled for Wednesday are canceled. Teachers will continue to provide assignments through Canvas for older students or SeeSaw for younger students, and communication with families will take place via Remind or Class Dojo.
Richmond County Schools are closely monitoring weather conditions for Thursday and will provide updates by Wednesday evening.
Additional updates will be shared through the district’s inclement weather landing page at www.rcboe.org/weatherupdates, the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, social media channels, and local news outlets.
Burke County Schools
- Wednesday, January 22, will be learn-from-home day. All employees, including 12-month personmel, should not report to work.
Meals will be sent home with each student Tuesday. All after-school activities are cancelled.
The School Board meeting scheduled for 5 pm Tuesday will now be held at 2 pm.
Lincoln County Schools
- Lincoln County Schools will have an eLearning day Wednesday
Edgefield County Schools
- Edgefield County Schools will have an eLearning day Wednesday, with the possibility of an additional eLearning day on Thursday. A decision about Thursday’s instruction will be made by 12 pm Wednesday.
Area Colleges and Universities
- Augusta University: In-person classes for Wednesday will be remote. In-person activities for the day will be cancelled.
- Augusta University employees are encouraged to work remotely.
- USC Aiken: Normal business hours and class schedules on Tuesday. All in-person activities scheduled for the USCA campus after 5 pm Tuesday have been postponed.
- Augusta Technical College: All campuses closed on Tuesday
Other Closings And Cancellations
- Several flights have been cancelled at Augusta Regional Airport as well as Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Check with your airline if you have a flight scheduled for today.
- Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Administration building is closing to the public today at 1:00 pm
- St. Teresa’s Campus will close at 1:00 pm today. All events are cancelled.
- City of Augusta government offices are closing at 1:00 pm today. Today’s Augusta Commission meeting scheduled for 2:00 pm will be held Thursday at 12:30.
- All Augusta Transit bus services have been suspended until further notice.
- Report hazardous conditions such as icy roads, fallen branches or other weather-related concerns to Augusta 311.
- Daytime warming centers are available to those who need shelter during the day at the Carrie Mays Center on 11th Avenue; Bernie Ward Center on Lumpkin Road; Blythe Center on Highway 88; Henry Brigham Center on Golden Camp Road; May Park on 4th Street; McBean Center on Hephzibah/McBean Road; Sand Hills Center on Wheeler Road; W.T. Johnson Center on Hunter Street; Warren Road Center on Warren Road; and Diamond Lakes Regional Park on Windsor Spring Road.
- Overnight warming shelters are available at the Augusta Rescue Mission at 526 Walker Street; Garden City Rescue Mission at 828 Fenwick Street; and the Salvation Army Center of Hope at 1384 Greene Street. May Park will operate as a warming shelter until Thursday. Check-in hours are 5 pm-9 pm.
- Columbia County offices will have a delayed opening of 11:00 am on Wednesday. That includes the Board of Commissioners, Tax Commissioner, Columbia County Sheriff’s Administration, Clerk of Court, All Courts and the District Attorney’s Office.
