Beaufort County Schools is operating on a three-hour early dismissal Wednesday to avoid the incoming and potentially dangerous storms, according to Sarah Hodges Stalls, public information officer.

As schools have different dismissal times, Stalls said each one will just dismiss three hours earlier than its usual dismissal time.

She said the school district’s hope is to get students and staff home before the worst of the storms pass through the county. The National Weather Service predicts the strongest thunderstorms, with possible hail and 60-mph winds, will be passing over between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m.

“We’re trying to get our folks off the road,” Stalls said.