UPDATE: UNC shared an Alert Carolina on Monday saying it would extend its Condition 2 status on campus to 11:59 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3 as a result of lingering icy conditions. The university urged caution if traveling on and around campus, while saying classes continue to be cancelled and non-mandatory staff are still encouraged to stay home.
Below is the original story from Sunday, Feb. 1.
Monday is Groundhog Day in the U.S., and the UNC campus community will have some déjà vu — as it will be the third consecutive Monday without classes.
UNC issued an Alert Carolina message at 4 p.m. Sunday saying it would extend its Condition 2 status on campus to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, keeping operations limited in the wake of snowy weather from the weekend and cold temperatures. The university said while facility crews are “working hard across campus to clear primary building entrances and walkways,” it would require more time on Monday.
UNC also urged caution to anyone walking on campus, citing the risks of slipping and falling on pathways and chance of snow falling off rooftops.
“Your safety is our number one consideration,” said Sunday’s Alert Carolina message. “As a rule, students, faculty and staff must use their own best judgement about whether they can travel safely to and from campus.”
UNC entered Condition 2 on Friday ahead of the arrival of Winter Storm Gianna, which ultimately dropped several inches of snow across North Carolina — including amounts ranging from 2 to 6 inches in the Triangle. While state and local government crews spent Sunday plowing and treating roads, Sunday night’s below-freezing temperatures presented a risk for icy conditions Monday morning. Several of the local K-12 school districts either cancelled classes or will hold remote learning for Monday.
The decision comes after UNC canceled classes on Monday, Jan. 26 following Winter Storm Fern, which brought sleet and freezing rain to much of the Triangle. That precipitation, coupled with frigid temperatures, led to icy road conditions that kept UNC from normal operations until Wednesday, Jan. 28. The previous week saw the university recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19.
One university operation that may not be affected by Condition 2 is the UNC men’s basketball game’s matchup vs. Syracuse. While no official word has been shared from the program confirming the game as of Sunday night, Chapel Hill Transit said it would be running its Tar Heel Express service for fans getting to and from the Dean Smith Center Monday evening. UNC has played basketball games under Condition 2 operations before — including the women’s team on Sunday, Jan. 25, where fans were encouraged to only attend if they could walk to the arena.
UNC said if any abnormal change in campus conditions happens beyond Monday, it will update the campus community through Alert Carolina no later than 7 p.m.
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 by Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill.
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