Sarasota Schools To Close On Monday As Tropical Storm Approaches

SARASOTA, FL — As the county braces for rain and strong winds from Tropical Storm Eta, Sarasota County Schools will close all schools and offices in the district on Monday. The district announced the closures Sunday night.

According to a post on its Facebook page, the district decided to close its schools Monday based on the county’s Emergency Operations Team’s updated weather “forecast determining that the current path of Tropical Storm Eta will affect Sarasota County with significant rain and sustained winds of 40 mph with wind gusts over 50 mph (on Monday.)” Families and staff were contacted about the closures Sunday evening.

The School District of Manatee County posted to its website that its schools and offices will remain open during normal hours on Monday. The post said that according to the county’s emergency management officials, “Tropical Storm Eta is not expected to significantly impact Manatee County (on Monday)…However, we can expect some rain and gusty winds as outer bands associated with the storm move through the area during the day.”

The school district also noted that “Eta could have more of a direct impact on Manatee County later this week.”

Coastal and inland Sarasota and Manatee counties are under a Tropical Storm Watch Sunday night, as Tropical Storm Eta directly hits South Florida. The Florida Keys and South Florida could see hurricane-like conditions at times Sunday night and early Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Eta will move into the Gulf of Mexico before turning back towards Florida’s Gulf Coast later this week.