Campus may close Tuesday due to snow and high winds in the area, according to the university.
“The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather alert for the Chicago area with snow and high winds possible tonight and tomorrow. A decision on whether to close the University on Tuesday will be made early Tuesday morning,” said an e-mail sent out to the Northwestern community as part of the university’s emergency management system.
The e-mail urged students to refer to the Breaking News box on Northwestern’s home page Tuesday morning to find out what the university’s decision. Additionally, the emergency management system will call and send text messages to alert students of the status of Tuesday classes.
The Weather Channel Web site predicted on Monday that severe weather conditions would begin that night and continue into Tuesday afternoon. Although expected to range from 0 to 10 degrees Farenheit, the temperature will feel as though it’s below zero throughout the day.
A similar alert was sent out Dec. 18 over winter break. The university, however, remained open.
The last time NU canceled classes because of weather conditions was Feb. 6, 2008. Only evening classes were canceled.
Before last year, the most recent weather-related cancellation occurred in 1979. After a weekend blizzard, the university closed for two days.
Read the e-mail below:
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Message sent – 1/12/2009
Weather alert for Jan. 13, 2009This is a message from the Northwestern University emergency notification system.
It is the night of Monday, January 12, 2009. The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather alert for the Chicago area with snow and high winds possible tonight and tomorrow. A decision on whether to close the University on Tuesday will be made early Tuesday morning. On Tuesday, check the Breaking News box on the Northwestern home page, www.northwestern.edu, to find out whether the University is open or closed. You also will receive an e-mail and text message Tuesday morning advising you of the University’s status. If the University is closed, that information also will be sent to Chicago-area media for inclusion in their school closing lists.
If the University is open but you believe it is unsafe to come to work, then you should stay home.