Jefferson County Schools have announced that classes will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The system is releasing students a bit early because of the approach of possible winter weather, to make sure that buses don’t get stuck on the roads with children inside if snow or ice strike. That was a major problem with last week’s winter storm, which hit suddenly and without warning for metro Birmingham and stranded many students and staffers overnight.

Tabernacle Christian School and childcare (daycare) in Gardendale will be also closing at 3 p.m.

The possible winter weather has caused the first round of most AHSAA girls basketball playoffs to be called off for tonight.

The Class 6A tournament at Huffman (involving Gardendale) will be played Friday, with game times to be determined. Likewise for the 5A tourney at Hayden, where coach John Simmons said he’s “85 percent sure” their games will also be played Friday, and he’s still working out game times. Mortimer Jordan plays in that bracket.

The 5A tournament at Center Point (involving Pinson Valley) is postponed until Saturday. No official word on the 4A tournament at Carbon Hill, where Corner and Dora play, but all Walker County schools dismissed early as well.

And the 4A tournament at Oneonta (involving Locust Fork) is also postponed until Friday, times still to be set. Also no official word on Fultondale’s game at Altamont.