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Current projected path of Tropical Storm Nicole as of 4 p.m. Wednesday. (NOAA)
Live Oak City Manager George Curtis is closing City Hall on Thursday “out of an abundance of caution.”
The closure of City Hall and City Hall annex was made Wednesday afternoon by Curtis due to the Tropical Storm Warning issued Wednesday morning for the area.
According the Tropical Storm Warning, which was also issued for Columbia and Hamilton counties, the area can expect to see tropical storm force winds of 40-50 miles per hour with gusts up to 65 miles per hour from Thursday afternoon until early Friday morning.
The forecast from the National Weather Service also calls for 2-4 inches of rain from the storm.
Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton schools call off Thursday
Students in Columbia and Suwannee counties are getting a four-day weekend.
Both the Columbia County School District and Suwannee County School District announced Wednesday afternoon that school would be canceled for Thursday due to Tropical Storm Nicole.
In announcing Thursday’s closure, Suwannee County Superintendent Ted Roush said the missed day will be made up on March 27, 2023, which previously had been set as a professional development day for employees.
According to the Suwannee and Hamilton announcements, the cancellations were made for school bus safety.
“We are not permitted to operate school bus transportation in the event that winds meet of exceed 35 miles per hour,” Roush said in the announcement. “Regardless of the rainfall amounts, there is a strong possibility that winds could meet or exceed the legal standard for operating school buses during periods of student transportation.”
Earlier Wednesday, a Tropical Storm Warning was issued for North Florida, including Columbia, Hamilton and Suwannee counties.
Veterans Day ceremony, parade canceled in LO
The annual Veterans Day parade in Live Oak and the ceremony that follows are canceled.
Jim Broe, one of the organizers with the Harry C. Gray II Memorial American Legion Post 107, said Wednesday morning that he unfortunately had to pull the plug on the events to honor the veterans.
“Safety is more important,” Broe said, adding that there were too many uncertainties surrounding Friday’s weather from Tropical Storm Nicole to proceed with the parade and ceremony, especially with potential wind gusts and their impact on floats in the parade.
“Sadly, we had to pull the plug,” Broe added.
County making preparations for storm
The Columbia County Public Works Department is preparing in advance of Tropical Storm Nicole’s arrival.
“Based on the current forecast we do not foresee this storm causing major damage to Columbia County,” Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby said in a release. “However, Public Works is prepared for the worst with manpower, materials and equipment if the storm changes course or conditions worsen at any time.”
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, the storm was traveling west at 12 miles per hour and is expected to turn west-northwest on Wednesday night, followed by a northwestern turn Thursday. It is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday night as a Category 1 hurricane.
Forecasts call for 2-4 inches of rain in Columbia County with possible wind gusts up to 40-50 mph.
Already, the county’s public works department has made put storm plans in place with trucks and equipment ready for deployment.
The county is also pumping down all county-owned retention ponds to help with potential flooding from the storm.
FGC closing Thursday for Nicole
In preparation for Tropical Storm Nicole, Florida Gateway College is closing its campuses Thursday.
The closure, the school announced, includes all offices, classes, activities, events and satellite locations.
In addition to Thursday’s closure for the storm, FGC is also closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day.
FGC officials said students and employees should monitor the school’s website as well their college email accounts and the college’s social media channels for updates.
Veterans Day parade canceled
The Veterans Day parade in Lake City, scheduled for Friday, has been canceled due to the anticipated inclement weather from Tropical Storm Nicole.