Portsmouth Schools to Close Early for Hurricane Earl

Portsmouth students will start their Labor Day weekend early this year.

Students will be dismissed from school early Friday due to the impending weather forecast, announced Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Lusi.

Hurricane Earl, which is expected to be a Category 2 hurricane by the time it reaches Portsmouth late Friday, will bring heavy winds and rain to the region.

The school department will dismiss classes as follows:

Portsmouth High School—noon

Portsmouth Middle School—12:30 p.m.

Mellville Elementary and Hathaway Elementary Schools—1:30 p.m.

There will be no afternoon kindergarten on Friday. Morning kindergarten will be  held as scheduled.

All afternoon athletics and after-school activities have been canceled, including the PAY program.

"There was a conference call this afternoon with Rhode Island EMA," wrote Lusi in an e-mail. "The severe wind and rain is currently predicted to hit at 5 p.m.  This schedule will enable us to have everyone home safely by 3 p.m.

"I am notifying families now so that particularly those with young children can plan and make sure someone is at home to meet their children."

At the side is also information about the Portsmouth Middle School shelter.

The middle school will be used as a shelter in the event of any evacuations. The American Red Cross has set up a command unit at the middle school.

Please continue to listen and watch for further updates. If the weather forecast takes a turn for the worse, further cancellations are possible, according to the superintendent.