The two Lexington County school districts where students have begun classes are altering their schedules Aug. 7 due to the threat of potentially dangerous weather.

Per National Weather Service Columbia, “An enhanced risk (3/5) for severe weather continues to be in place for most of the area today as this evening a line of storms moves in producing numerous damaging wind gusts. Heat indices rise to around 105 to 110F this afternoon before the storms arrive.”

NWS Columbia notes that damaging wind gusts in excess of 60-70 miles per hour are possible during the storms, which are likely to arrive between 5 and 10 p.m. Tornadoes, lightning and flooding are also potential threats.

With Lexington County residing within the area that has been deemed be at enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms, the county issued a reminder to sign up for CodeRED Emergency Alerts.

Lexington County School District 2 — which serves West Columbia, Cayce and Springdale and resumed classes Monday — is dismissing an hour early “due to forecasts of severe storms and high winds,” it announced via social media.

Lexington 2 families are asked to check email for additional details. All Monday afternoon activities are canceled.

Lexington County School District 3 — which serves Batesburg-Leesville and resumed classes Aug. 1 — is also dismissing an hour early:

• Batesburg-Leesville Primary School: Dismissal at 1:15 p.m.
• Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School: Dismissal at 1:30 p.m.
• Batesburg-Leesville Middle School: Dismissal at 2:00 p.m.
• Batesburg-Leesville High School: Dismissal at 2:10 p.m.

“These conditions could affect the safe operation of school buses as the South Carolina Department of Education does not allow buses to operate when wind gusts are greater than 40 miles per hour,” Lexington 3 notes in a release, adding that all afterschool activities are canceled.

“Parents of car rider students who are unable to pick up their child early today may still pick them up at the regular dismissal time. We will safely hold these affected students in our schools until a parent/guardian arrives to pick them up. Parents of bus riders should anticipate their students to arrive home one hour earlier than normal.”