Northern California Storm: List Of School, Business Closures

Schools and businesses have announced that it will be closed Thursday due to the powerful storm moving through the Sacramento region.

Sacramento Zoo

• The Sacramento Zoo will be closed to visitors Dec. 11 due to the high winds.

NOTICE: The Sacramento Zoo will be closed to visitors on Thursday, December 11th due to predicted high winds. Stay safe everyone!

— Sacramento Zoo (@SacramentoZoo) December 10, 2014

Fairytale Town

• Fairytale Town is closed Dec. 11 due to the weather

Some ski resorts are closing for the day due to the storm:

Heavenly

• The resort is closed for the day due to winds. The resort will reopen Dec. 12.

Heavenly Mountain is closed for the day until further notice due to strong winds. We will re-open Friday December 12th at 9a.m.#heavenlysnow

— SkiHeavenly (@skiheavenly) December 11, 2014

 Boreal Mountain Resort

• The resort is suspending operations due to the high winds and snow. 

Good morning! Due to the forecasted three feet of snow and high winds, Boreal is suspending operations… http://t.co/hIgFAUdTAX

— borealmtn (@borealmtn) December 11, 2014

State Park Closures For Dec. 11

Bay Area: 

• Angel Island State Park
• Tomales Bay State Park
• Sonoma Coast State Park
• Mount Diablo State Park summit
• Annadel State Park
• Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park.
  • Mount Tamalpais State Park
  • Olompali State Historic Parks will be closed today, until further notice. 
  • Richardson Grove State Park has been closed until further notice. 
  • Samuel P. Taylor State Park will be closing the campground today until further notice. 

San Luis Obispo:

• Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (Hearst Castle) is closed today due to safety concerns pertaining to high winds and rain.  No daytime or evening tours will be available today.  The Visitor Center will remain open regular hours.

Santa Cruz County

• Big Basin Redwoods State Park, New Brighton State Beach, Seacliff State Beach, and Sunset State Beach have been closed, and are expected to remain closed through next Wednesday December 16. Reservations are being cancelled and refunds will be issued.

Monterey County

• Carmel River State Beach, Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve will close today and tomorrow. 

Mendocino County

• MacKerricher and Van Damme campgrounds have been closed until further notice. 

San Mateo County:

• Ano Nuevo State Park is closed to day use.

Monterey County:

• Coastal Trail at Asilomar State Beach, closed until further notice.
• Stevenson Garden within Monterey State Historic Park, closed until further notice.

Other State Parks:

• Weaverville Joss House State Historic Parkvisitor center and temple are closed due to a power outage.  All other areas of the park will remain open to pedestrian traffic.
  • The road of Newton B. Drury Parkway at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Howland Hill Road at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park are closed, as well as Davison Road to Gold Bluffs Beach Campground and Fern Canyon. The Elk Prairie Campground at Prairie Creek will be closed.
  • Near Guerneville in western Sonoma County, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and adjoining Austin Creek State Recreation Area will close during the storm, except for local residents who need drive through the parks to access their homes, due to high winds and potential for falling trees and debris.

South Lake Tahoe Schools

• Per YubaNet.com, South Lake Tahoe Unified School District schools are releasing students early due to power outages.

San Joaquin Delta College

• The school has issued an emergency closure until 6 a.m. on Dec. 12. Check for updates here.

Waldorf School in Fair Oaks

• School will be closed Thursday due to the storm

SCHOOL IS CLOSED THURSDAY due to high winds & rain, possible falling trees & power outages, as well as commute risk for our families.

— Sacramento Waldorf (@sacwaldorf) December 10, 2014

Sacramento Valley Charter School

• The school will be closed Dec. 11.

St. Francis Catholic High School

• The school will be closed Dec. 11 due to the weather. School resumes Dec. 12. 

Got any storm-related photos? Send them to us through Twitter, Facebook or e-mail them to [email protected].

California State Superintendent Tom Torlakson released this message about Thursday's storm.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Plan for Possible School Closures Because of Storm

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that schools may seek relief from loss of funding if they close as a result of the major winter storm.

“I urge everyone to use common sense and to avoid taking unnecessary risks, especially when taking their children to and from school in the heavy rain and strong wind gusts,” said Torlakson. “The safety of our students, parents, teachers, school employees, and communities is our top priority.”

Local educational agencies may lose Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding if their facilities are used as community shelters, forced to close because of a natural disaster, or when the Governor declares a state of emergency. In such situations, the California Education Code allows the State Superintendent to authorize ADA credit for the days that schools are closed.

Local educational agencies may receive ADA credit for all purposes and instructional time credit for the days and minutes lost due to an emergency closure.

-Capital Public Radio Staff