By JAN GRIFFEY/Editor

COLUMBIANA — Shelby County Schools will dismiss today at noon, due to the high risk of inclement weather.

In addition, Hoover City’s Spain Park High School and Berry Middle School will dismiss at 10:30 a.m. and its elementary schools — Riverchase and Greystone — will close today at 11 a.m.

Also, Jeff State’s Shelby County campus is closing at 12:15 p.m. and the University of Montevallo is closing at noon.

The National Weather Service is forecasting strong, damaging winds and potential tornadoes, as well as very large hail as possibilities for Central Alabama, including Shelby County.

The threat, the National Weather Service predicts, will extend across Central Alabama during the afternoon and will continue through midnight.