Schools Close Amid Winter Weather Warnings in Cape Fear Region

BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – Schools across the Cape Fear region are closing or delaying schedules due to anticipated winter weather conditions this week. Various school districts have issued announcements to prioritize the safety of students and staff.

Columbus County Schools will release students early at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19. Meanwhile, Duplin County Schools confirmed a full closure for both students and staff, with all activities including athletics canceled. “Safety is our number one priority, and staff will continue to monitor weather and road conditions to provide further notifications as necessary,” the district stated in a press release.

Similarly, Whiteville City Schools will dismiss students at 1:00 p.m., while Brunswick County Schools will conduct its schedule normally but will implement a two-hour delay for Thursday, February 20. On that day, after-school activities will proceed as usual.

New Hanover County Schools announced a two-hour delay for Thursday as well. A Facebook post from the district noted that “extracurricular activities are still a go for Wednesday, as weather isn’t expected in our area until late evening.” They are delaying any decisions on a full closure for Thursday until they assess morning conditions.

In Bladen County, schools will close Wednesday due to weather, with no remote learning in place, and a promise of updates from the superintendent later today. “All after-school activities scheduled for February 19 are canceled,” the district said.

Pender County Schools also announced schedule changes due to incoming rain and freezing temperatures. All after-school activities are off for February 19, with a remote learning day set for Thursday, February 20. Regular classes will resume on Friday. Dr. Brad Breedlove, Pender County Superintendent, emphasized safety, stating, “The safety of our students is our top priority, and we are taking these measures out of an abundance of caution.”

Additional schools, including Penderlea School and Pender Early College, will not have school on Thursday. Parents and guardians with questions are encouraged to reach out to their children’s schools directly. WECT will continue to provide updates as more closures are announced.