Polk schools cancel Thursday classes as Nicole's high winds are expected Wednesday evening

Polk County Public Schools are canceling class on Thursday, the day Tropical Storm Nicole is supposed to move through the area.

The district announced about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday that classes would be canceled Thursday. After-school activities on Wednesday and Thursday are also canceled.

"The current track shows that we can expect tropical storm-force winds (ranging from 58 to 73 mph) to begin impacting our area on Wednesday evening," the district said via recorded phone message and email.

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"High wind speeds affect our ability to operate school buses safely."

The message said the Florida Department of Education recommends that school buses not operate when wind speeds exceed 35 mph.

The cancellation means a four-day weekend for students, as schools and district offices were already closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day.

The Schools of McKeel Academy, a system of charter schools, also canceled class on Thursday. But unlike Polk public schools, McKeel schools have class on Friday.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Tropical Storm Nicole: Polk County schools closed Thursday