Tropical Storm Isaias changes Albany-area high school football schedule

ALBANY — Tropical Storm Isaias is still hundreds of miles from Southwest Georgia, but it has already changed this week’s high school football schedule.

At least five area games originally scheduled for Friday have been moved to Thursday as schools prepare for heavy rain, gusty winds and the possibility of severe weather from the rapidly strengthening Gulf storm.

Deerfield-Windsor will host Terrell Academy at 7 p.m. Thursday in Albany, while Baconton Charter’s game against Southwest Georgia and Mitchell County’s game at Clinch County will also kick off at 7 p.m.

Lee County will host Veterans at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Leesburg, and Worth County will welcome Kendrick to Sylvester at the same time. Monroe’s game at Bainbridge has also been moved to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Mitchell County’s game at Clinch County is set for 7 p.m. Thursday.

The changes will create an unusually crowded Thursday night around Southwest Georgia, but they should allow those teams to play before conditions are expected to deteriorate Friday.

As of 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Isaias had strengthened to sustained winds of 65 mph while moving east-northeast at 8 mph across the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center expected the storm to become a hurricane Thursday and approach the northern Gulf Coast Friday.

Forecasters said Isaias could reach the coast somewhere between Mississippi and the western Florida Panhandle late Friday or early Saturday. Although the center is not currently projected to pass directly over Georgia, Southwest Georgia could find itself on the storm’s more active eastern side.

That part of a tropical system can carry heavy rain, strong wind gusts and an increased threat of tornadoes well away from the center.

The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee warned Wednesday evening that Isaias was strengthening rapidly and could reach the northern Gulf Coast as a significant hurricane. Its impacts are expected to be weighted east of the center, bringing the potential for flooding rain, damaging wind and tornadoes.

The Albany forecast calls for a 90% chance of rain Friday and Friday night, with wind gusts as high as 25 mph during the day and breezy conditions continuing after dark. Rain and possible thunderstorms remain in the forecast Saturday, also with a 90% chance of precipitation.

University of Georgia agricultural climatologist Pam Knox said tropical-storm-force winds could reach western Georgia as early as Friday afternoon, although the stronger effects may arrive later. Rain could begin in the southernmost counties Thursday night and spread northward Friday.

Knox urged residents to prepare for possible power outages and secure anything that could become airborne in strong wind. She also cautioned that impacts may extend well outside the forecast cone.

Not every area football game has been moved.

Sherwood Christian’s region game at top-ranked Valwood remained scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Valdosta as of Wednesday evening.

Westover head coach Corey Joyner said Wednesday night no changes had been made but he is hoping Spencer officials will change the game.

Additional schedule changes remain possible as the storm strengthens and its track becomes clearer. Fans should check with their schools before traveling to games Thursday or Friday.

For now, however, much of Southwest Georgia’s traditional Friday night football schedule has become a Thursday-night sprint to beat the storm.