FLORENCE, Ala. — Florence City Schools announced Wednesday afternoon that the Florence High School 2024 Homecoming Parade and Community Pep Rally are cancelled. Administrators made the decision in anticipation for severe weather from Hurricane Francine.

Local news outlets reported that Francine is forecast to make landfall as at least a strong Category 1 storm with the potential to bring strong winds and rain to the Tennessee Valley. The hurricane is expected to become a tropical depression by the time the eye reaches northern Mississippi around 7 p.m. on Thursday—the same time the homecoming parade was set to roll. Rain from the storm’s outer bands is expected to impact the Shoals area for much of the afternoon, evening, and into Friday.

Friday’s football game against the Austin Black Bears is still scheduled as planned. The Florence Falcon Athletic Department is developing a plan to have the four class floats featured at the game for attendees to view due to the parade’s cancellation.