Most metro Atlanta schools will close early Friday ahead of winter storm

People work to push a stuck Atlanta school bus and a car on an icy stretch of University Avenue in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday evening January 28, 2014.  The bus was eventually moved off the road and left for the night. (AJC FILE PHOTO)

People work to push a stuck Atlanta school bus and a car on an icy stretch of University Avenue in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday evening January 28, 2014. The bus was eventually moved off the road and left for the night. (AJC FILE PHOTO)

12:30 a.m. UPDATE:

Clayton County is the latest school district to announce classes will end early Friday, joining Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb county school systems as well as Marietta City Schools and City Schools of Decatur.

Gwinnett County Schools, as of Thursday afternoon, was watching the forecast but had no plans to alter the school day.

FROM EARLIER:

Most school districts announced late Thursday afternoon they were releasing students early Friday amid angst over a storm projected to dump about a half a foot of snow across the region.

So far:

DeKalb County School District officials announced via email students will be released two hours early Friday. Atlanta Public Schools, Marietta City Schools and Cobb County Schools also announced early dismissals.

All Atlanta-area school districts, with the exception of Gwinnett County, have canceled after-school activities for the weekend.

Channel 2 meteorologists say metro Atlanta could see several inches of snow in different places as a pattern posing a significant threat moves through the area. A winter storm warning was issued for 4 p.m. Friday.

Area school superintendents make the final decisions on whether school or activities are canceled or postponed. Many are meeting with staffers throughout the day for updates, or checking with the National Weather Service as the day progresses.

Thursday morning, no closings had been reported. As it became clear bad weather would affect metro Atlanta later Friday, calls were made to cancel activities.