Like most of the country, Morgantown will see bitterly cold weather in the next few days, with forecasters predicting the coldest temperatures for overnight Monday through Tuesday. Temperatures will moderate on Wednesday, the first day of classes at West Virginia University.
Students will be returning to Morgantown Monday and Tuesday and be moving about campus, for example: participating in New Student Orientation, general registration, visiting the financial aid office, visiting faculty to ask about fall grades, returning to jobs after the break, registering for classes, buying text books and attending the Mid-Year Academy. Residence halls reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday.
WVU typically remains open and operates as normal during inclement weather. Any changes will be announced through MIX, Facebook, Twitter, local news outlets and WVU’s emergency alert system.
During the upcoming cold snap, WVU officials urge students to be prepared to avoid the dangers of frostbite and hypothermia. These conditions can occur in a matter of minutes with the predicted air temperatures of 5 to 10 below zero with wind chills of 25 to 40 below.
Consider these precautions for travel:
- Travel with a fully charged phone.
- Make sure your vehicle is winterized, with appropriate antifreeze.
- Let someone know your exact travel route and when you leave and arrive.
- Have cold weather clothing in your vehicle including hats, gloves, coat, shoes, water and snacks in case your vehicle breaks down.
- Depending on situation, it usually is better to call 911 for assistance rather than walk in extreme temperatures to seek help.
Once in Morgantown:
- Stay indoors if at all possible.
- If you must leave your residence, wear several layers of clothing, coat, gloves, hats and cover as much of your face as possible with a scarf or other covering;
- Have enough heat in your residence.
- If supplemental heat is needed use UL-approved devices or electric heaters.
- Do not warm your residence with open flames such as gas stove burners, ovens or a propane gas grill.
- Any fuel burning devices must be properly vented to the outside.
- If you are having heating problems, call your landlord.
- If you have difficulty getting a response, contact the WVU Attorney for Students in E. Moore Hall (304.293.4897). If the apartment is inside the city limits you may call the City of Morgantown Code Enforcement office.
- If water pipes are not well insulated, consider leaving water on to allow a slow but steady drip; flowing water, even at a drip can help keep pipes from freezing or bursting.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
- If pipes freeze, gently warm with hair dryer; do not use hand held propane blowtorches to warm frozen pipes.
For more cold weather tips, visit the National Weather Service or Centers for Disease Control websites:
-WVU-
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CONTACT: University Relations/News
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