DeKalb County School District officials announced late Thursday that students would be released two hours early Friday as forecasters say 4 inches of snow is expected in metro Atlanta over the weekend.

The move was in response to a state of emergency declaration made by Gov. Nathan Deal due to the weather conditions.

Earlier in the day, district officials announced Friday after-school activities would be canceled as the National Weather Service announced a weather pattern moving west would dump several inches of snow over metro Atlanta.