A few North Alabama schools closing around noon today. Saying wind and hail golf ball size.

Is it me or do the kids get out of school related to the weather more these days? I know it's a serious liability issue but I remember us as kids being in the school basement during tornado warnings.

Nope, our kids where out of school last Monday for a thunderstorm.

We used to have tornado drills in which we would line up in the hall and get on our knees facing the wall and put our heads down to the floor with our hands clasped over our heads. I don't know if they even still have tornado drills any more and if they do, I am sure the protocol has changed. For reference, I graduated high school in 1987.

1988 here , yes I remember that position 🤣

We had a strong and large F3 come through the middle of our town 10 plus years ago. In it path it completely removed grass from the lawns and removed complete houses from the foundation. It killed 10-12 (cant remember exactly) students at the high school and injured hundreds. Out of the hundred houses damaged. It only killed one other person.

I think that happening was the catalyst for so many school days to be called off for a variety of weather around here. But, there are schools who have since then built new facilities and incorporated construction into them to also be storm shelters. For those schools who will open up to the public as a storm shelter I don't understand why those schools will call the day off for their students.

The Andalusia Junior High school, which is on the same campus with the high school has a gym that is purposed for being a community storm shelter as well and they often will call school off, too. Maybe it is so they can open the gym up to the public when they might not be able to if school was in session?

I was told, that although most schools make provisions IF bad weather hits. It can still be a logistical problem. Having to show up to/ and leaving school requires busses to run, which can be an issue as well. If that makes sense. Its easier to reschedule for a better day than risk a thousand folks being on the road if they know the weather is supposed to be bad. Thats the way it was explained to me anyways.

I will close early anyday rather than risk the life of any child. Nuff said.

Thompson HS has part of the school built to be a tornado shelter. I believe this is part of new school building code. This shelter was open to the public a couple weeks ago when all the bad weather was predicted.

During the Monday line of storms the other week my daughter blew my phone up wanting to come home. I told her that realistically, she’s probably safer at school than I was at home, and to stick it out. I thought I had won.

But then she started sending me stuff about reported hail, and how she doesn’t want her new (to her) Corolla to be lit up when it could be safe at home in the garage. I’ll admit she did win with that argument, but no hail ever materialized here.

11,000 folks without power in lauderdale county. Storms roll thru with very high winds . Some had hail . Temp drop 20 degrees in hr at my house

That sucks but glad you’re safe. The tornados glanced me a few weeks ago and twisted up several trees but the house was spared minus one plank of vinyl. Weather can definitely be scary