10News WTSP Latest School Closings and Delays

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When severe weather or emergencies strike the Tampa Bay area, staying informed about school schedules is a top priority for families. 10 Tampa Bay (WTSP) serves as a vital resource, providing real-time updates on school closings and delays across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and surrounding counties.

Current School Closings and Delays Status

How to Get Real-Time Alerts from 10 Tampa Bay

WTSP provides several ways to monitor school changes so you can plan your morning accordingly:

The 10 Tampa Bay App: This is the fastest way to receive updates. You can enable “Breaking News” and “Weather” notifications to get school closing alerts sent directly to your phone.
Online Closing Dashboard: WTSP maintains a dedicated Closings and Delays page. When active, this page features a searchable list of public districts, private schools, and daycare centers.
On-Air Coverage: During severe weather events, look for the “scrawl” or ticker at the bottom of your TV screen during 10 Tampa Bay This Morning.

What to Watch For: Common Terms

If weather conditions change, you may see different labels assigned to your district:

Status	Meaning for Parents
Closed	No classes. Generally, all extracurricular activities and bus services are also suspended.
2-Hour Delay	School starts two hours after the normal bell time. Buses will arrive at stops two hours later than usual.
Early Release	Students are sent home before the usual dismissal time, often to ensure buses are off the road before a storm hits.
Closed/Shelter	In hurricane scenarios, schools may close to students to serve as community emergency shelters.

Decisions and Safety

School superintendents in Florida typically make the call to close or delay classes in coordination with Emergency Management and meteorologists from the 10 Tampa Bay Weather team. Decisions are usually finalized by 5:00 AM to ensure parents have enough notice before the first buses begin their routes.

Road Safety: High winds (often exceeding 35–40 mph) can prevent school buses from crossing major bridges like the Sunshine Skyway or the Howard Frankland.
Flooding: Heavy rain can make rural roads in counties like Hernando or Polk impassable for heavy buses.

Get the latest school closings, cancellations, and delays. View school closures for Florida from 10News WTSP. Tampa Bay news, weather, traffic and sports from 10 Tampa Bay WTSP in Tampa, Florida.

WTSP, virtual and VHF digital channel 10, is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to St. Petersburg, Florida, United States and also serving Tampa. The station is owned by Tegna Inc.-Wikipedia