[Updated] Vernon Students to be Dismissed Early Monday

Updated Monday 11:44 a.m.

The potential for a meteorological mess of a day has prompted school officials to shorten the school day.

Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway announced the decision mid-morning.

Here is her message to the public:

In anticipation of snow this afternoon, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, the Vernon public schools will dismiss students according to the established early release schedule. I repeat, today, Monday, Jan. 28, schools will be closing early according to the established schedule for your school.

There will be no afternoon kindergarten and activities are postponed.

Here is the Vernon forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today - Snow before 5 p.m., then snow and sleet with high temperatures near 32. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent with daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible.

Tonight - Freezing rain and sleet before 9 p.m., then a chance of freezing rain between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., then areas of freezing drizzle after 1 a.m. Patchy fog before 10 p.m., then patchy fog between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. Low around 30. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Monday's Board of Education meeting was postponed.