Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) closed all district campuses today after strong thunderstorms ravaged the city over the weekend, causing widespread power outages.¶
The district announced the closure Sunday at 7 p.m., and while many schools have power, more than 40 do not, according to the Daily Memphian.¶
At 6:30 p.m. Monday, the district announced that schools would reopen on Tuesday with some exceptions.¶
“MLGW (Memphis Light, Gas and Water) continues restoration work at these specific locations. Before any school reopens, our teams confirm that power, HVAC, and other critical building systems are fully operational and that traffic routes are safe and accessible,” a statement from MSCS reads. “Power restoration efforts remain ongoing, and conditions may change throughout the evening. If power is restored and a school is determined ready to safely reopen, families and staff at that school will receive direct communication from the school and/or District with an updated reopening status. We encourage families at impacted schools to continue monitoring their messages for updates.”¶
Here are the schools that will remain closed Tuesday:¶
- A. B. Hill Elementary School
- A. Maceo Walker Middle School
- Alcy Elementary School
- Balmoral Elementary School
- Colonial Middle School
- Fox Meadows Elementary School
- Germanshire Elementary School
- Hollis F. Price
- Ida B. Wells Academy
- Kirby High School
- Norris Achievement Academy
- Oakhaven Elementary School
- Oakhaven High School
- Oakhaven Middle School
- Sherwood Elementary School
- Sherwood Middle School
- Willow Oaks Elementary School
- Wooddale High School
School Timeline
While MSCS-operated schools closed, the district’s 50 independently operated public charter schools make their own closure decisions, meaning those that still had power could opt to stay open.¶
Similarly, other school districts in Shelby County opted to open or operate on a delayed schedule.¶
Collierville schools implemented a two-hour delay, with high schools beginning at 9:30 a.m., middle schools at 10:15 a.m., and elementary schools at 11 a.m. Germantown Municipal School District followed a regular schedule, and the nearby towns of Arlington, Bartlett, Lakeland, and Millington maintained normal schedules because their schools still had power.¶
The Storm’s Impact
Memphis was hit by a “bow echo” storm, which gets its name from the archery bow-like shape it can take on weather radar. The storms form when wind descends from higher up in the storm, rushes down and out, and pushes precipitation into the bow shape. It is a major indicator of damaging winds, especially at the middle and outward parts of the bow.¶
This storm brought winds of 60 to 80 miles per hour, causing significant damage, including snapped trees, downed power lines, and hail.¶
MLGW claimed nearly 20 percent of customers remained without power as of Sunday evening, and power is expected to be restored everywhere by the end of Thursday.¶
