UPDATE: On Sunday, UNC announced it would extend its Condition 2 status for campus through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The university cited the icy conditions created by “a significant winter weather event” and said it remains “dangerous” to travel to campus in any type of vehicle. As a result, classes are canceled for Tuesday and any non-essential vehicle traffic is discouraged around Carolina.

Below is the original story shared on Friday, Jan. 23:

UNC announced it will suspend most campus operations starting Saturday afternoon — and cancel classes for Monday — ahead of the arrival of Winter Storm Fern.

With the forecast predicting a massive storm system will bring precipitation and frigid temperatures to the Triangle, the university issued an Alert Carolina message at 3 p.m. Friday warning the campus community of the change in operation. As of 12 p.m. on Saturday, UNC will move to Condition 2 and suspend all “non-mandatory operations” on campus until at least Tuesday, Jan. 27 out of an abundance of caution.

“Your safety is our number one consideration,” read the university alert. “As a rule, students, faculty and staff must use their own best judgment about whether they can travel safely to and from campus.”

UNC said if adverse weather conditions are expected to impact campus and the region beyond Monday night, any extension of Condition 2 on campus will be announced no later than 12 p.m. on Monday through the Alert Carolina system.

The university also shared an AlertCarolina message on Saturday saying vehicular traffic through campus will be restricted from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. until Jan. 27.

For students and campus community members who rely on services like Carolina Dining, Carolina Housing, Campus Health and the university’s Transportation and Parking department, UNC encouraged people to visit the University Operating Status webpage through the weekend to review any updates on their availability.

As of Friday, Winter Storm Fern is forecasted to bring significantly below-freezing temperatures to much of central North Carolina as part of a bigger storm system moving across the southern United States. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Warning for Orange County thanks to consistent forecasts of ice accumulation thanks to sleet and freezing rain taking place Saturday into Monday.

Find a list of safety resources, local emergency services, shelter options and more on Chapelboro. Ready.gov, a website through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, also offers several safety tips for staying warm, keeping power, and enduring inclement winter weather. More information can be found here.

Featured photo via Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill.

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