At least 18 St. Lawrence County and neighboring school districts are planning to close early Monday as the effects of Hurricane Sandy are expected to first hit the area.

As word of the potential ferocity of this storm built early last evening, the Potsdam, Ogdensburg, Massena, Norwood-Norfolk, Lisbon, Edwards-Knox, Madrid-Waddington, Parishville-Hopkinton, Brasher Falls, Colton-Pierrepont and Canton school districts had all announced plans to close at mid-day Monday. Other local school districts announced early closing this morning.

Strong damaging winds are expected to hit northern New York between midday and 5 p.m. Monday, St. Lawrence County Emergency Services officials are warning. “Northern New York will see conditions worsen by the evening commute,” officials said in a prepared statement. “Conditions are expected to slowly abate during the day Tuesay, with showery conditions continuing into Wednesday.”

Meanwhile Massena Mayor James F. Hidy and Town Supervisor Joseph D. Gray issued a joint Declaration of Emergency at 6 p.m. The declaration allows officials to begin taking steps to “protect life, property and public infrastructure, infrastructure, or to provide emergency assistance,” said Police Chief Timmy Currier in a press release.

For up-to-date cancellations, visit the NorthCountryNow.com Cancellations & Delays Page.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, the following schools had announced closing plans:

• Potsdam Central School -- Middle and high school will dismiss at 11 a.m. and the elementary school will dismiss at noon. All Pre-K classes and after-school activties are canceled.

• Madrid-Waddington Central School – Junior-senior high school students will be dismissed at noon and elementary students will be dismissed at 1 p.m. There will be no afternoon BOCES. Lunch will be served as regularly scheduled. There will be no afternoon activities.

• Massena Central School plans a half-day and no afternoon Pre-K classes will take place.

• Parishville-Hopkinton Central School will close at noon.

• Canton Central School and St. Mary's are closing at noon.

• Ogdensburg City School District is closing at 1 p.m.

• Brasher Falls Central School, 1 p.m. high and middle school students, 2 p.m. elementary

• Colton-Pierrepont Central School -- 1:30 p.m., no after school activities

• Norwood-Norfolk Central School -- Middle and high school will dismiss at 11 a.m. and the elementary school will be dismissed at noon.

• Lisbon Central School District -- closing at noon. There will be no after-school activities.

• Edwards-Knox Central School -- closing at 11:30 a.m.

• Brushton-Moira Central School -- closing at 1 p.m.

• Salmon River Central School -- closing at 1 p.m.

• St. Regis Falls  Central School-- closing at 1 p.m.

• Clifton-Fine Central School -- closing at 12:15 p.m.

• Gouverneur Central School -- closing at noon

• Heuvelton School District -- closing at 1 p.m.

• Harrisville Schools  -- closing at 1 p.m.

• St. Lawrence County Head Start will dismiss students at 10:30 a.m.; Parishville Head Start is closed today.

Many after schoolk acticities, including a whole slate of sovccer games, have been postponed.

St. Lawrence County Emergency Services officials said there is a “high confidence” of strong and damaging easterly winds in the St. Lawrence Valley of between 60 and 80 miles per hour from Monday afternoon through Monday night, with conditions remaining quite breezing with winds nd gust abating through Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This will result in many trees downed and significant and lengthy power outage issues across the reason,” officials said this afternoon.

However, the National Weather Service tonight is forecasting gusts of up to 55 mph Monday night.

For current forecast for your community, visit the NorthCountryNow.com Weather Page.

To view current radar map, visit Intellicast.com

In Massena, village and town officials, along with emergency responders and emergency preparedness personnel are meeting at 10 a.m. to “take necessary steps to respond appropriately to the forecasted storm,”