JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Several Northeast Florida school districts announced closures on Monday ahead of Hurricane Milton.
As of 2 p.m., Hurricane Milton exploded in strength Monday, rapidly intensifying over the southern Gulf of Mexico into a Category 5 storm with 175 mph sustained winds.
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RELATED | County-by-county: Northeast Florida begins preparations ahead of Hurricane Milton
News4JAX will update this list as we learn more from our local districts and schools.
St. Johns County
St. Johns County School District announced it will close from Wednesday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 11.
All extracurricular activities, athletic events, and extended day programs are also canceled or closed Wednesday-Friday.
There will be normal school operations on Tuesday, Oct 8. However, all extracurricular activities, athletic events, and after-school extended day programs are canceled or closed. All district offices will also operate as normal Tuesday.
Duval County
Duval County Public Schools announced it will close from Wednesday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 11 ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Officials said they decided to close schools to ensure the safety of everyone and to accommodate shelters that may need to open due to the storm.
All school activities, including athletics and after-school programs will also be canceled during those days, officials said.
After the storm passes and crews begin recovery efforts, the district will make an announcement regarding operations for the following week.
Flagler County
Flagler Schools will be closed Wednesday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 11.
There will be normal operations Tuesday. However, all outdoor after-school activities will be canceled. Extended day will be open.
Putnam County
All Putnam County School District schools and offices will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10.
All after-school programs/athletic activities are cancelled beginning Tuesday, Oct. 8. through Thursday, Oct. 10.
A decision for Friday, Oct. 11, will be made at a later time.
Clay County
Clay County District Schools has not announced closures. However, officials said they are closely monitoring Milton and its potential impact on the area.
The district encouraged all community members to visit Alert.ClayCountyGov.com to make a plan, get a kit, and stay informed.
Nassau County
All Nassau County School District schools will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10.
All after-school activities for Tuesday, Oct. 8 will continue as planned unless otherwise notified by a specific school.
Once the storm has passed and recovery efforts begin, the district will provide an update on Friday’s operations.
Officials encouraged residents to stay informed by following Nassau EM for local safety updates and resources.
Colleges
UF: The University of Florida will close its offices and cancel classes, including online classes, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and continuing through Thursday because of Hurricane Milton.
All academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams, will also be canceled during that time.
Notices of any other scheduling changes can be found on the UF home page and through official channels. Visit UF’s emergency updates page for additional details and information.