By Pat Culverhouse

Webster Parish Superintendent of Schools Johnny Rowland is watching reports on this weekend’s expected serious winter event and said decisions will be made based on all available data.

Rowland said the latest information he received from the Webster Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, received at 11 a.m. Thursday, shows moderate to major threats to roadways and infrastructure around and north of Interstate 20.

“The report (Thursday) said the transition to wintry precipitation has been moved to a little later Friday night into early Saturday morning,” he said. “To be on the safe side, we’ve cancelled all after school activities scheduled on Friday.”

Rowland said the next update is planned for Friday after WOHSEP Director Brian Williams concludes his 2 p.m. briefing with the National Weather Service. But, he added, a winter storm watch was expected to be upgraded Thursday afternoon to a winter storm warning from Friday evening through Sunday morning for I-20 and north.

This area has also been upgraded to a major risk for snow, ice and sleet for Sunday and Monday with an added elevated risk for Sunday due to continuing impacts from prior accumulations. 

“We’re told we can expect 80 hours of below freezing temperatures after Friday, and the impact to roads, power lines, water lines and trees should occur by mid-day Saturday and continue through Tuesday,” he said. “Our decisions on parish schools for next week will be made as quickly as we can.”

Glenbrook School officials say they are continuing to monitor the weather situation and decisions on closure will be made based on conditions.