The university has announced that the Ithaca and AgriTech campuses will be closed from 3:00 am on Tuesday, March 14, and will tentatively reopen at 3:00 am on Wednesday, March 15. Snow and 40 mph gusts, according to the National Weather Service.
This announcement comes despite our 2020 policy stating that in-person classes will be moved online during periods of inclement weather. However, current university policy regarding inclement weather is determined by the administration’s public safety assessment.
CornellALERT will send out a message on reopening plans by Tuesday evening. As part of the closure, all university classes, exams, events and activities will be cancelled.
Dormitories will remain open, but the CornellALERT emergency message service is warning students to limit outdoor exposure. Libraries and on-campus retail stores will be closed.
Snowstorm and blizzard conditions can affect visibility, knock down tree branches and cause power outages, and travel will be greatly impacted. Up-to-date road conditions are available by calling 511.
“Campus officials clear roads and sidewalks, but continued snowfall and snowstorms can leave surfaces covered with snow and can become slippery,” the Emergency Management Agency said Monday. I wrote in an email sent to all students around 6:15pm. “If you need to go out on a Tuesday or Wednesday, check the relevant websites to find out what services and facilities are currently operating, dress for the weather, plan your route carefully, and plan your trip accordingly. Please reserve extra time.”
Cornelian can check the university’s operational status or by calling the Increment Weather Line at 607-255-3377. The University will also announce changes in campus operations with a CornellALERT message sent to all Cornell email addresses and registered mobile phones.
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit has not yet announced any upcoming service changes, but has posted a statement on its website reminding riders to check for travel updates before heading to the bus station.
“Considering that the situation is constantly changing and the route will be affected differently, TCAT is asking passengers to consult the TCAT Bus Tracker and check the public service message at the bottom left of the screen. ‘, the statement said. “Riders are also encouraged to download the Real-Time Information App.”
The Ithaca City school district also announced that the school district will be closed tomorrow. All classes, after-school and evening activities, and ICSD Board of Education are cancelled.
In a press release, the district said, “After close monitoring throughout the day, the decision to cancel was made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students and staff.” and in consultation with the National Weather Service.”