Because of the fear of icy roads and bridges, all public schools in Colbert, Lauderdale, and Franklin counties will open today at 10 a.m.

Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals and Sheffield schools also open at 10 a.m., but Colbert County schools will open at 10:30 a.m.

Bus routes in the Colbert County school district will begin running at 9:30 a.m., with bus routes beginning at 9 a.m. for all other local districts.

Weather officials said today that freezing rain or sleet is expected to begin by 8:30 a.m. with rain getting heavier throughout the day. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-30s in most areas of northwest Alabama through mid-afternoon.

At 7:45 a.m., it was 34 degrees in the Shoals with light rain falling.