Winter Weather Update: UNCW Will Close Jan. 31-Feb. 2

Based on National Weather Service winter weather advisories for Wilmington and the surrounding region, UNCW will be closed Saturday-Monday (Jan. 31-Feb. 2). Classes are cancelled Saturday-Monday.

Campus events scheduled through Feb. 2 are also cancelled, including iFest, which was set to take place on Saturday, Jan. 31. A university update about classes, events and activities Tuesday and later will be sent by 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 unless conditions warrant earlier notification.

Cold, Snowy Conditions

Current forecasts indicate the Wilmington area could receive approximately 7-8 inches of snow, possibly more, starting Saturday, Jan. 31. Extremely cold temperatures, gusty winds and wind chill temperatures near 0 degrees, will prevent frozen precipitation from melting quickly.

Residential Students

On-campus residential students are encouraged to stay indoors as much as possible. Please be safety conscious when heading outdoors to enjoy the winter wonderland. Wear warm layers and use caution. Avoid driving in snowy conditions. Be careful when walking up or down steps or stairwells as they may be slippery in winter weather conditions. Housing and Residence Life will salt high-traffic areas. Management at Plato’s Loft and the Cottages at College Acres will coordinate weather preparation for HRL residents living there.

University Employees

UNCW will move to Condition 2 (Suspended Operations) under the Adverse Weather Policy beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday until further notice. During this time, the university has suspended all but mandatory operations due to minimal staffing levels.

Employees designated or temporarily assigned as mandatory must report to work or remain at work as directed; all other employees may not report to work or must leave the workplace when this status takes effect. Employees may also work remotely with their supervisor’s approval. If any scheduled work time is missed, it must be recorded as leave in accordance with leave-keeping policies.

Other Events and Services

Winter weather conditions will affect services on campus and in the surrounding community. Please check relevant websites and/or social media feeds for the latest updates.

• UNCW Dining website
• Shuttles
• Parking 
• Bookstore 
• Student Recreation Center
• WAVE Transit 
• UNCW Library
• UNCW Arts
• Athletics events and activities 
• NCDOT Road Conditions 

Classes

All classes are cancelled from Saturday, Jan. 31 through Monday, Feb. 2; class meetings, assignments, and exams are postponed.

Updates

Updates will be posted to the UNCW homepage, UNCW Alert page, UNCW Mobile and shared on social media feeds (Facebook, Instagram and X). These sources contain the latest information available to university officials. Keep your cell phones charged and monitor your campus email inboxes; messages with a reference to the weather in the subject line merit careful review. 

In the event of university-level closings or cancellations, UNCW Alert text messages and the Emergency Information Hotline (1.888.657.5751) will be activated.   

Be Safe, Stay Informed

If you are traveling this weekend, monitor weather conditions closely. If driving, travel during daylight hours when road conditions can be more readily recognized. Avoid cell phone use; leave early to allow for additional travel time; reduce speed; increase following distance; and be patient.

As conditions may vary across North Carolina, please remember to make responsible decisions for your safety. See road condition information on the NCDOT website.