Thursday, January 05, 2017

UNCW officials are monitoring forecasts for winter weather Friday evening, Jan. 6, through Sunday, Jan. 8. Though the forecast remains uncertain, confidence in the forecast is increasing, and inclement weather is expected to affect our region.

The forecast indicates that winter precipitation will likely begin as a rain/snow mix Friday night and transition to snow late Friday or early Saturday. Wintry precipitation is expected to end Saturday evening, but roadways will likely remain hazardous into Sunday.

As conditions will vary across the region and no one weather bulletin will apply to everyone, please remember that each of us is responsible for our own decisions, actions and safety. Students and parents should monitor the weather for the region as well as travel routes to determine the best times to travel back to Wilmington from the holiday break. UNCW advises students against traveling at all on Saturday or before noon on Sunday.

Students who will be absent from scheduled classes due to weather conditions should contact their instructors. Students enrolled in online programs should contact their instructors with questions about how the inclement weather may affect their schedules. Students enrolled in courses at the university’s Onslow County extension site should follow Coastal Carolina Community College’s schedule.

Faculty and staff from affected areas who are scheduled to work during the winter weather event should refer to the Adverse Weather Policy (Condition 1) to determine their best personal course of action. For instructors who deem it necessary to cancel or postpone classes on the main campus on Monday, UNCW recommends notifying your students as soon as possible.

When traveling, please stay alert; avoid cell phone use; ensure you have ample fuel and cash as well as a paper map; leave early to allow for additional travel time; reduce speed; increase following distance and be patient.

Updates will be posted on the UNCW homepage, the UNCW Alert website, Facebook and Twitter for information. These sources of information contain the latest information available to university officials. Monitor your campus email inboxes; messages with a reference to the weather in the subject line merit careful review. 

The Emergency Information Hotline can be reached at 910.962.3991 or 888.657.5751. The hotline serves as a backup for information already posted on UNCW.edu, sent via campus email, and shared via social media. The latest information will appear via those channels first. The university may issue an update as conditions warrant, no later than 4 p.m. tomorrow (Friday).

- Andrea Monroe Weaver

#EH&S