More than 30 Alabama school systems are delaying opening on Thursday because of forecasts of bitterly cold weather.
Most of the postponements are in north and central Alabama. But systems as far south as southeast Alabama also are telling students to come later than normal.
Officials are delaying openings because of temperatures in the single-digits and teens and wind-child readings that are expected to fall below zero in areas.
The postponements give temperatures a chance to warm up a little before children have to stand outside in the cold waiting on buses. They also help guard against overtaxing school heating systems while temperatures are in the single-digits and teens.
Utility systems from the Tennessee Valley to south Alabama are asking customers to reduce power usage during the cold snap.
A full list of delayed starts is available here.