Afternoon bus service suspended; away games canceled due to storm

The Barrow County School System suspended bus service at 2:30 p.m. because of the severe weather. Officials posted a notice on the system's website. It states: "This line is bearing down on us and we don't feel we can finish the routes before it hits. Hopefully it won't be a full force issue but we will err on the safety side. Parents may pick up unless we go to an actual severe WARNING."

Officials also canceled the afternoon basketball games at Oconee County Middle School and at Malcolm Bridge Middle School. Other after-school and extension programs are continuing as usual.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Barrow County that is in effect until 8 p.m. A wind advisory is in effect until midnight.