By Mark Gomez
A powerful storm that is expected to blast the Bay Area Thursday with bursts of rain and gusts of wind up to 70 mph has prompted school districts all over the area to close schools to make sure children are safe.
Oakland school officials on Wednesday afternoon joined San Francisco, Berkeley, Alameda and other districts in announcing schools in their cities will close Thursday, according to a news release. San Lorenzo Valley schools in the Santa Cruz Mountains also will close.
Vallejo City Unified School District officials said Wednesday afternoon that district schools would be open Thursday.
California Maritime Academy classes were cancelled for Thursday due to the severe weather, school officials said Wednesday evening.