Detroit schools close early to avoid severe thunderstorms

Detroit Public Schools on Wednesday closed a couple of hours early today to avoid imminent severe thunderstorms, which had been forecast to dump several inches of rain in Metro Detroit region over the next 24 hours.

School authorities said they decided to close all schools in the area two hours earlier than their scheduled times so that students and teachers could return home safely.

A statement released by the authorities read, "All Detroit Public Schools will dismiss two hours earlier than their scheduled bell times today, Sept. 10, to allow students and staff to return home safely before the heavy thunderstorms expected this evening."

The earliest discharge took place at 12:40 p. m., while the last dismissal took place at 2:10 p. m. All students were served lunch before leaving schools.

Afternoon Career Technical programs and all after-school programs were also cancelled due to the imminent thunderstorms.

The City of Detroit has already suffered at least two powerful thunderstorms in the recent past. On September 5, thunderstorms damaged several power lines, leaving more than 385,000 residents without power. Earlier on August 11, powerful floods after heavy rains swamped metro Detroit that led to widespread gridlock across the city.