HCS to close early due to potential severe weather

Homewood City Schools will be closing at 1 p.m. on March 19 due to the potential for severe weather, said HCS director of communication Merrick Wilson. All extended day programs and after school activities are also canceled. 

Around 10:50 a.m., the National Weather Service upgraded the threat to the Birmingham metro area from "enhanced" to "moderate," with strong tornadoes, tennis ball-sized hail and winds up to 80 miles per hour possible.

The predicted timing of the severe weather has shifted to later in the day, from 6 p.m.-10 p.m., although NWS stated scattered, severe storms are possible this afternoon, too. Those storms can include winds up to 60 miles per hour, quarter-sized hail and tornadoes.

For continual weather updates, follow the Birmingham National Weather Service on Twitter, @NWSBirmingham.