As heavy snow hits the Rochester area, some area malls and museums will close early Sunday, and at least one local school district canceled classes for Monday as a massive winter storm is underway.
District officials announced early Sunday afternoon that all Rochester City School District schools and offices would be closed Monday because of the storm. All school-related events and activities are also canceled, according to district officials.
On Monday, January 26, more public school districts in the Rochester area closed schools and offices. School districts announcing closures before dusk included Penfield, Gates Chili, Greece and Rush-Henrietta. A number of private schools also announced they would be closed Monday because of the storm, including Aquinas Academy in Rochester and Bishop Kearney School in Irondequoit.
Monroe Community College and Finger Lakes Community College have also canceled all in-person and remote classes, events and activities. Nazareth University also canceled classes for Monday.
A massive winter storm is hitting the East Coast this weekend, expected to bring heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures to New York. A winter storm warning is in effect for much of the state Monday night, according to the National Weather Service. Some areas may also see additional snow from lake effect by Tuesday morning. Snowfall amounts of 12 to 18 inches are expected across much of the state.
Shopping malls, museums close early due to cold weather
Wilmorite, which owns and operates both malls, said the Eastview Mall in Victor, Ontario County, and the Mall at Greek Ridge in Greece will both close at 3 p.m. Sunday due to the weather.
Some area museums also announced they would shorten their Sunday hours, with the Strong National Museum of Play and the Rochester Museum & Science Center both shortening their daytime hours and closing at 3 p.m. The George Eastman Museum and the Susan B. Anthony Museum and Home, also in Rochester, were closed Sunday.
Monroe Community College has also canceled all in-person and remote classes, events and activities for Sunday due to the storm, according to its website. Some public libraries — including Fairport, Pittsford and Brighton — are also closed due to the weather.
Some churches in the Rochester area canceled services and other events Sunday as snowflakes began to fall. The Brighton Town Farmers Market, usually held on winter Sundays at the Market Barn on Westfall Road in Buckland Park, was also canceled due to the storm.
More flight cancellations are expected on Monday. Check back with The Democrat and Chronicle for the latest weather-related updates.
This article originally appeared in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Winter storm forces schools, Rochester malls to close. See closing ceremony
