TSC, FAMU, FSU announce plans to shut down campuses ahead of potential major hurricane
Tallahassee State College will shut down its campus and cancel classes Wednesday through Friday as a storm in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to become a major Category 3 Hurricane Helene . After the closure, normal operations will resume Monday.
Following TSC's Tuesday morning announcement, Florida State and Florida A&M Universities also announced plans of their campus closures that begin Wednesday before reopening Monday. At FAMU, classes will be cancelled as soon as 12:15 p.m. Tuesday and through Friday, according to FAMU Campus Alerts.
FSU, FAMU and TSC announced their decisions after actively monitoring what was initially designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine before being upgraded to Tropical Storm Helene, according to the National Hurricane Center .
The announcements on campus closures and canceled classes – which come about a month into the fall semester – follow updates on how the storm is expected to become a hurricane Wednesday in the Gulf and could develop 115-mph winds by the time it makes landfall Thursday.
More: Updates: Leon County, Big Bend under hurricane watch as timing, track shifts overnight
As anticipated effects in Tallahassee include severe wind damage and flooding, the city is under a hurricane watch.
"AccuWeather expert meteorologists expect this to be a highly impactful storm," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. "This could be the storm that the 2024 hurricane season is remembered for."
FAMU's upcoming campus closure means weekend activities such as its home football game against Alabama A&M University as well as Parents and Family Weekend will be rescheduled, according to the university.
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Monday afternoon for 41 of Florida's 67 counties, including all of the Florida Panhandle. He expanded that to 61 counties on Tuesday .
While the storm approaches the Big Bend – which could potentially see a 15-foot storm surge and flooding rain – residents are encouraged to finish their storm preparations.
"Students, faculty and staff should be aware that there is a great deal of uncertainty in the current forecast and the system's track and intensity. This system does not yet have a defined center," the university said in a release.
"The University administration will continue to monitor the storm closely and provide updates as necessary. Students, faculty and staff are urged to stay informed and prioritize their safety during this period."
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_ .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TSC, FAMU, FSU to close campuses ahead of likely Category 3 hurricane
