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Here’s what’s closing around Tampa Bay because of Nicole

The list includes all public schools in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties.
 
Classes in public schools around Tampa Bay are canceled for Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Nicole.
Classes in public schools around Tampa Bay are canceled for Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Nicole. [ Times (1997) ]
Published Nov. 9, 2022|Updated Nov. 10, 2022

Schools around Tampa Bay have called off classes for Thursday with the approach of Hurricane Nicole, and for some students that will mean an extra-long weekend.

Many, though not all, local governments announced they are suspending operations. Pinellas County and St. Petersburg were among those planning to remain open for business.

For those in communities whose governments are shutting down, you’ll notice because it means garbage, recycling and yard waste won’t get picked up until your next scheduled day. If you were planning to renew an automobile license plate, you also may have to wait a day, or even until Monday, as some governments will be closed Friday for Veterans Day.

Related: Thursday live updates: Tropical Storm Nicole sloshing toward Tampa Bay

The region’s major airports will remain open as will major retailers around Tampa Bay. Some major attractions will close.

Here’s some of what is closing or staying open in the bay area:

Hillsborough County

Public schools are closed on Thursday and also will be shut down on Friday for Veterans Day.

All county government facilities also will close on Thursday, including libraries, parks, recreation areas and preserves. The county will also close its garbage collection sites and cancel curbside pickup for garbage, recycling and yard waste.

Many government facilities will remain closed on Friday for Veterans Day, though parks will reopen. Curbside waste pickup was expected to resume.

The cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace will close many of their government offices Thursday and Friday and suspend sanitation services, while Plant City announced it will suspend services and resume operations when the storm passes.

Pinellas County

Public schools will be closed on Thursday but are expected to reopen on Friday.

Pinellas County government has not announced any closures, including at the campground at Fort De Soto, or suspension of service. St. Petersburg government will remain open for business on Thursday. Largo city government had planned to open at noon on Thursday, but decided in the morning to keep offices and facilities closed for the entire day. City of Clearwater offices will open at noon on Thursday and its libraries at 1 p.m. Trash pickup scheduled for Thursday will take place on Friday and Friday service will occur on Saturday.

Pasco County

Pasco County public schools will be closed Thursday.

The county has not announced any suspension of services but it advised residents to follow the guidance of their private haulers for residential waste pickup. The state Department of Health is closing its offices and clinics in Pasco on Thursday.

Hernando County

Public schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.

County offices and its solid waste collection center also will be closed on Thursday. Residential pickup is canceled for Thursday. Normal business operations are expected to resume on Friday.

Higher education

The University of South Florida announced that most of its classes on Thursday will take place remotely. Classes were already canceled on Friday for Veterans Day. Classes are also now scheduled to take place remotely on Thursday at the University of Tampa and Stetson University College of Law. Classes will also be remote at Hillsborough Community College and St. Petersburg College. They are canceled at St. Leo University.

Airports

Both of the region’s major airports, Tampa International and St. Pete-Clearwater International, were operating as normal on Wednesday and expected to stay open on Thursday. However, passengers are encourage to check with their airlines for possible disruptions of service.

Attractions

Busch Gardens in Tampa and Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando will be closed on Thursday.

Retail

No major closures were announced for this part of Florida on Thursday, including by Publix, Winn-Dixie and Walmart, though the chains did announce closures or modified hours elsewhere in Florida.

Times staff writers Charlie Frago, Tracey McManus, Colleen Wright, Sharon Wynne, Bernadette Berdychowski and Marlene Sokol contributed to this report.

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