School Closings And Delays Hit Far East Tennessee After Overnight Snow
A winter weather advisory prompted school closings and delays across far East Tennessee on Monday, Feb. 23, as flurries moved in overnight and temperatures fell. The surge of announcements created a patchwork of closures and late starts for families preparing for the week.
School Closings And Delays in Far East Tennessee
Local officials and districts posted a mix of cancellations and two-hour delays for Monday, Feb. 23. Below is a snapshot of school closings and delays issued for Monday, Feb. 23.
List of districts and their Monday schedules
The districts and schools that announced changes for Monday, Feb. 23 are:
- Campbell County Schools: Closed for Monday, Feb. 23
- Carter County School District: Closed Monday, Feb. 23
- Claiborne County Schools: Closed for Monday, Feb. 23
- Cocke County Schools: Two-hour delay for Monday, Feb. 23
- Grainger County Schools: Closed for Monday, Feb. 23
- Heritage Christian Academy: Two-hour delay for Monday, Feb. 23
- Johnson County Schools: Closed Monday, Feb. 23
- Rogersville City School: Closed for Monday, Feb. 23
- Scott County Schools: Closed for Monday, Feb. 23. Central Office and related departments are on a two-hour delay.
- Sevier County Schools: Two-hour delay for Monday, Feb. 23
- Unicoi County Schools: No in-person learning - virtual learning begins at 10 a. m. ET. Lunches will be available for pickup for all students at either Unicoi Elementary or Unicoi High School between 11 a. m. and 1 p. m. ET. Students can go to whichever school is closer to them.
- Union County Schools: Closed for Monday, Feb. 23. Central Office will be open.
What the National Weather Service warned
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory, warning of "occasional snow showers through Monday night. " Accumulations of up to 4 inches are expected, with even higher totals at the top of Great Smoky Mountains peaks, and conditions will be very cold and windy.
Forecasters added: "Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes. " Most of East Tennessee is under a hazardous weather outlook as flurries started to fall and temperatures dropped.
Where conditions remain lighter
Heavy snowfall isn't predicted for Knoxville or Oak Ridge, and schools there are on schedule. District leaders in those cities kept regular hours while nearby counties moved to delays or closures.
Guidance for families and next steps
Unicoi County will run virtual classes starting at 10 a. m. ET and will offer lunch pickups between 11 a. m. and 1 p. m. ET at Unicoi Elementary and Unicoi High School; students may go to whichever site is closer. Scott County noted that while schools are closed, the Central Office and related departments will operate on a two-hour delay. Union County specified that schools are closed but the Central Office will be open.
This list will be updated as conditions evolve and districts revise plans. The winter weather advisory remains in effect through Monday night with occasional snow showers expected to continue into the evening.
