Augusta, GA
Kids to stay home Tuesday in Augusta, elsewhere
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – With a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY declared for Tuesday due to predictions of high winds and potentially heavy rain, some school districts are already making plans by canceling classes and activities.
Most school districts across the CSRA have either canceled classes for Tuesday or switched to online learning. Columbia County is one notable exception.
Here’s a look at the situation:
Richmond County
The Richmond County School System will hold a Power Up Asynchronous Learning Day on Tuesday, and students will not report to school as a result of the severe weather.
In order for students to be marked present for Tuesday, they must log in between the evening of Monday through midnight of Tuesday and complete their assignments.
“Parents and students are reminded to check Canvas for Asynchronous Learning Day assignments,” the Richmond County School System said.
Extracurricular events including games will not be held on Tuesday evening.
Lincoln County
Dr. Samuel Light, superintendent of Lincoln County School District, has announced schools will be closed on Tuesday as of 5 a.m.
Light says the plan is to return tomorrow, but updates will be issued if plans are changed.
Aiken County
Tuesday will be an e-learning day for all Aiken County Public School students and a remote workday for employees. All after-school activities, including practices and games will be canceled.
Allendale County
Allendale County schools will have an e-learning day Tuesday. All school buildings and district offices will be closed. Students are expected to complete online assignments.
Bamberg County
The Bamberg County School District will hold an e-learning day on Tuesday, and after-school activities are canceled.
Barnwell County
The Barnwell County School District will hold an e-learning day on Tuesday.
Briarwood Academy
Briarwood Academy in Warrenton will be closed Tuesday and all after-school activities are canceled.
Burke County
Burke County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday due to the forecast. Neither students nor employees should report to school.
Edgefield County
Tuesday will be an e-learning day for the Edgefield County School District.
Emanuel County
Emanuel County schools will be closed Tuesday for all students, faculty, and staff. All after-school activities scheduled for Tuesday are canceled.
Fox Creek
Fox Creek High School, a charter school outside North Augusta, has moved to an e-learning day for Tuesday.
Glascock County
Glascock County Schools will be closed on Tuesday for students and staff.
Hancock County
Hancock County schools will be closed Tuesday, according to the district.
Jefferson County
Jefferson County schools will be closed Tuesday, according to Stacy Raley Arnold, Jefferson County assistant superintendent.
Jenkins County
The Jenkins County School System will be closed on Tuesday due to the severe weather forecast. The plan is to resume the normal schedule on Wednesday.
Horse Creek Academy
The charter school in Aiken County will be closed Tuesday for an e-learning day. The decision has been made after careful consideration of the safety of students and staff.
McCormick County
Due to the predicted high winds and severe weather forecast by the National Weather Service, Tuesday will be an e-learning day. Students can access instruction via their Google Classroom to work from home. All athletic and extracurricular events and practices are also canceled for tomorrow.
McDuffie County
Due to the forecast of strong wind gusts and dangerous road conditions, the McDuffie County School System will be closed Tuesday.
Screven County
Due to the threat of high winds and severe weather, Screven County schools will be closed tomorrow Tuesday. School will resume Wednesday.
Taliaferro County
Due to the severe weather predicted, Taliaferro County schools will be closed Tuesday.
Warren County
Due to the potential severe rainfall and peak wind gusts impacting students and community’s safety, Warren County schools will be closed Tuesday.
Washington County
Schools will shift to virtual learning Tuesday. Students and staff will not report to the schools. All athletic events, extracurricular and after-school activities will be canceled.
Wilkes County
Schools will shift to a virtual learning day. Students will need to log into Google Classroom or the school website for assignments. School will resume Wednesday.
Also …
- Augusta Technical College locations will be closed Tuesday. Normal business hours will resume Wednesday. Students should check in with their instructors via Blackboard.
- The Aiken Technical College campus will be closed Tuesday. On-campus and online classes are canceled, and offices will be closed.
- Head Start centers in Burke County, Jefferson County, Jenkins County, Richmond County and Sylvania will be closed Tuesday for staff and students.
- A Child’s World Daycare & Learning Center in Waynesboro will be closed Tuesday.
- All campuses will be closed Tuesday for Oconee Fall Line Technical College, which has a location in Washington County.
- All non-emergency departments of both the Aiken County and the city of Aiken governments will be closed Tuesday.
- City of North Augusta offices will be closed Tuesday. Sanitation pickup is still scheduled but may be suspended, depending on the weather conditions.
- Libraries in Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell and Edgefield counties will be closed Tuesday.
- Aiken First Baptist Church Preschool will be closed Tuesday.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Annual fan drive returns as dangerous heat settles over Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – As a heat wave settles over Augusta, the Psi Omega Foundation is working with Richmond County Marshal’s Office to deliver fans as a part of their annual fan drive.
Eugene White, president of the Psi Omega Foundation, said his personal connection to the community drives the effort.
“I’m the son of someone. I’m the grandson of someone,” White said. “And so when we think about our elders who may have struggled, that really drives home our desire to build a tenacious community.”
Fans available, no questions asked
White spent the day delivering fans across Augusta. Around 140 fans were available for donation.
Lt. Monica Meyers of the Richmond County Marshal’s Office said this year’s conditions have been more severe than previous summers.
“This year I noticed that the humidity has been higher, the heat index has been higher,” Meyers said. “And with that said, we know that research shows us that the elderly and seniors are less likely to run their AC during the summer months because they’re trying to save their budgets, because they are on fixed budgets and low income.”
Doctors say anyone can be at risk for heat-related illness when the heat index reaches the 90s or above.
How to get a fan
The Marshal’s Office said fans are available to anyone, no questions asked. Meyers said residents can call the Richmond County Marshal’s Office at 706-821-2368 or visit the substation at 3050 Deans Bridge Road in Augusta.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
As temps rise, Augusta officials open May Park cooling center
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Emergency Management Agency will open a cooling center on Friday as temperatures continue to climb.
According to officials, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the city.
The city will open the May Park Community Center on Friday from 12-7 p.m.
Officials say residents may use Augusta Transit’s normal routes during operating hours to access the cooling center.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
FBI presents leadership award to John Ryan for #StrongAugusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – John Ryan, the coordinator for the Office of Critical Event Preparedness & Response at Augusta University, was awarded the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Director’s Community Leadership Award on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
Ryan was recognized for his work with the #StrongAugusta initiative. It started six years ago as a way to train law enforcement agencies how to respond to active shooter situations.
“What we’re doing as for as fostering a community safety initiative which is really at the highest level of what “Strong Augusta” is, is a community safety effort and what it means is it’s not falling on deaf ears,” Ryan said.
The FBI said the award recognizes people who go above and beyond to support the community to encourage safety.
“It highlights people in the community that go above and beyond to support their community in a leadership role to try to enhance education, crime prevention, social justice,” said Brian A. Osden, an assistant special agent in charge at the FBI’s Atlanta division.
Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps
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