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Winter Storm Expected Late Monday, Tuesday

Officials taking precautions in preparation for wintery weather

[Updated: Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, 12:45 p.m.)

The Severe Weather and Emergency Conditions policy for Duke University and Duke University Health System will be activated as of 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16. The Provost has also canceled classes scheduled to begin after 5 p.m. Monday evening. Future updates will be posted on the DukeALERT website.

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[Updated: Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, 7:50 a.m.]

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning from 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16 until 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17. Snow is expected to begin around 4 p.m. in the Triangle before turning to sleet later in the evening.

Duke is operating on a normal schedule, but officials are closely monitoring the forecasts and will be making a decision regarding activation of the Severe Weather and Emergency Conditions policy and continuation of classes this evening later today.

Crews will continue pretreating campus roads, sidewalks and elevated surfaces in preparation for winter weather. Gates on parking lots and garages will be open after 5 p.m. today to provide safe access during winter weather for staff in Essential Service positions.

The K-ville Quad concert scheduled for this evening will be cancelled if the Severe Weather and Emergency Conditions policy is activated. If the policy is activated, Duke will send notification via the DukeALERT system, including text message, email, the DukeALERT website and the web alert bar. Faculty and staff who are not already registered should sign up for text message updates from the DukeALERT system.

Additional updates will be posted as information becomes available.

[Original post: Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, Noon]

Duke officials are monitoring forecasts for a winter storm expected to impact central North Carolina late Monday through Tuesday.

The National Weather Service is anticipating two rounds of winter weather with the first round of snow moving into the area from the west by late Monday afternoon and overspreading all of central North Carolina by Monday evening. This first round of snow should last through at least the early overnight period with 2-4 inches of accumlation forecasted. The second round of precipitation will spread northward into the state Tuesday morning. Due to the lingering cold conditions, the precipitation will likely start off as a period of snow, then mix with some sleet, and/or freezing rain.

Crews will be pretreating campus roads and sidewalks with a brine solution early Monday in preparation for potential winter weather. Members of the Duke community are also encouraged to review the priority clearing map to determine the preferred paths of travel during severe weather, which may differ from normal routines.

Officials will continue to monitor the forecasts and communicate updates as information becomes available. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to register for text message updates if not already signed up for the DukeALERT notification method. Duke will send emergency text messages in the event the Severe Weather and Emergency Conditions policy is activated. 

Given the possibility of inclement weather, staff members should review Duke's severe weather and emergency conditions policy and discuss with their managers what they should do if the policy is activated.

During times of severe weather, some staff positions require on-site presence to continue operations. To ensure continuous operations of patient care, student support and research functions, managers should assign all jobs to one of three service categories:

* Essential Service: During severe weather or emergency conditions, essential service staff report or remain at work. Transportation service and other accomodations may be provided for those required to work during severe weather or emergency conditions.

* Reserve Service: During severe weather or emergency conditions, these staff are assigned a status at the time of the event.

* Delayed Service: During severe weather or emergency conditions, these staff do not report to or remain at work.

Future updates will be posted on Duke Today as conditions warrant.