BREAKING: GW Closed Due to Winter Storm

At 5am Wednesday morning the University announced that it will be closed today, March 6th, and no scheduled classes, activities, or events would be held due to a snowstorm that is affecting the DC and mid-atlantic region.

The University advises the GW community to continue to check: advisories.gwu.edu for updates regarding the storm.

According to The Washington Post's "Capital Weather Gang" blog, DC is expected to receive 5-10 inches between Wednesday morning and late Wednesday night.

All designated personnel and emergency employees of the University are still scheduled to report.

The last time the University canceled classes came back in October when classes on October 29th and October 30th were canceled due to Hurricane Sandy.

The last time the University canceled classes due to snow was in February 2010 during the now famous "Snowmageddon" snow storms.


UPDATE-6:45am: The University is saying through its Campus Advisories Website that transportation to and from the Virginia Science and Technology campus has been suspended.  However, transportation to and from the Mount Vernon Campus will continue at the moment on its normal schedule.

Also, according to the Eckles Library twitter account, Eckles will be open from 10am-4pm Wednesday with the 24 hour computer lab remaining open after 4pm.


Stay with WRGW News for the latest updates on University announcements regarding the storm.

Classes before 10 AM CANCELLED Thursday, January 27

Due to inclement weather, classes and administrative offices will open on 10 AM on Thursday, January 27.  This applies to the Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon, Arlington and Alexandria locations.

Daytime classes at the Virginia Science and Technology campus are cancelled, and administrative offices are closed.

Continue to stay up to date with GW operations by calling the university information line at 202-994-5050 or by visiting http://campusadvisories.gwu.edu/.

Stay with WRGW for the latest. UPDATE 3:50 PM: University officials have confirmed that evening classes on the Virginia campus have been canceled.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

All Classes on Wednesday after 4:30 CANCELLED

George Washington University administrators have cancelled all classes beginning after 4:30 PM on Wednesday, January 26 in response to current and imminent severe weather conditions.

From GW Campus Advisories:

All classes starting at 4:30 p.m. or later on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, are canceled for GW’s Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon and Virginia Science and Technology campuses and the university’s Arlington and Alexandria locations.

Early release of GW employees will begin at 4 p.m. with the approval of the employee’s manager.

Early release for employees on site at the Biostatistics Center in Montgomery County, Md., began at 2:45 p.m.

The Office of Emergency Management asks all students to stay up to date with evolving weather news by checking their website, http://www.campusadvisories.gwu.edu/.

No decision has been made for classes on Thursday, January 27.

Fed. Government Skips Town with Snow on the Horizon

While talk of freezes in last night's State of the Union may have sent chills down Federal employees' spines, the Office of Personnel Management is sending workers home early today due to a more natural threat: snow.

In order to avoid travel on roads that are predicted to become increasingly ice-covered as the afternoon moves forward, employees have been granted permission to leave their offices inside the District two hours earlier than usual.

As of now, GWU officials have announced no deviations from normal operations for either Wednesday or Thursday, but will be monitoring the situation throughout the afternoon as conditions worsen.

The National Weather Service upgraded its winter storm watch to an official warning around noon today, including with it an updated forecast predicting 5-10 inches by midnight Wednesday.  The snow, predicted to start in the mid-afternoon, will be at its hardest during the late afternoon rush hour.  Visibility will fall to less than a quarter mile and accumulation could reach up to 2 inches per hour.

Forecasts have been trending towards the severe as the day progresses.  Less than 24 hours before the National Weather Service issued its winter storm warning, some outlets questioned whether the District would see any accumulation at all; current predictions from NOAA, however, put the odds of an 8"+ snowfall at 40%, and 4"+ at over 70%.

This story is developing; stay WRGW News for the latest information on weather, class cancellations and much more.

Snow Expected Thursday

An alert sent across district by the city's Emergency Management Agency Wednesday evening cautioned residents to expect 1"-2" of snow Thursday between the hours of beginning around 7am and continuable for much of the day.

The alert, sent out at 7:30pm, warned recipients of well below freezing temperatures overnight and forecast that Thursday's high would be a chilly 28 degrees.

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang blog posted a similar prediction, calling for 1"-3" of snow for DC, with areas south of the city potentially receiving up to 5".

Stay with WRGW for the latest.

Severe Weather Watch issued for DC; 5+ Inches of Snow Expected

The National Weather Serivce has issues a Winter Storm Watch for the District late Wednesday night to late Thursday night, with a forecast of 5" or more of snow expected. A mix of rain and snow Wednesday evening will turn to all snow between midnight and 3am, lasting through Thursday evening. Stay with WRGW news for the latest news and closings.

Make-Up Days Announced

GW has announced how it will make up for the days of classes missed due to the snow storms.  From GW Infomail:

Monday, Feb. 8, canceled classes to be held on Tuesday, April 27 (Regular Makeup Day);

Tuesday, Feb. 9, canceled classes to be held on Thursday, April 29 (Reading Day 1);

Wednesday, Feb. 10, canceled classes to be held on Friday, April 30 (Reading Day 2);

Thursday, Feb. 11, canceled classes to be held on Saturday, May 1.

CLASSES CANCELLED THURSDAY, FEB 11

From GW Campus Advisories:

Thursday, Feb. 11: Classes Canceled; Designated Employees Only Report

All classes on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, are canceled. Designated employees should report to work. All other employees need not report.

Please continue to check Campus Advisories at http://campusadvisories.gwu.edu or GW’s Information Line at 202-994-5050 for updates affecting operations of the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses and the University’s Arlington and Alexandria locations.

For updates on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus, call 703-726-8333.

For updates on the GW Medical Center, call 202-994-3501.

University Snow Removal Exceeds $50,000

GW has been working hard to remove the snow and ice from campus and it is putting a large dent in the school budget.

According to Alicia O'Neil, Senior Associate Vice President for Operations, the major snowstorm before Christmas exceeded $50,000 in additional costs and the expenses for the current snowstorm (which is significantly larger) have not yet been calculated.

"While the cost of snow removal operations for the winter season will exceed expenditures for a typical winter, we will ensure that we remain within budget by utilizing emergency funds and making other necessary adjustments," wrote O'Neil in an e-mail earlier today.

GW vs. GU Snowball Fight

If not the Dupont Circle snowball fight, come represent for the Colonials against the Hoyas in a George Washington vs. Georgetown snowball fight at Rose Park on 26th and O St at 6:00 p.m.

On the evening of the school's record third snow day in a row, students from both schools will duke it out in the snow to gain school bragging rights during this unforgettable week of D.C. Snowmageddon.

Already more than 500 students plan to attend as word has spread through Twitter and Facebook of the crosstown snowball battle. Colonials and Hoyas alike have been trading trash talk before tonight's snowball fight via Facebook. Even the Washington Post, NBC D.C., and the Los Angeles Times have caught on to the snow showdown between the schools.

If interested in representing the Buff and Blue, meet fellow Colonials in Kogan Plaza at 5:30 p.m.

Record Number of Snow Days for GWU

The worst snowstorm in DC since 1922 is causing disarray at The George Washington University; affecting 23,000 students and all aspects of campus life.

Classes have been cancelled for three consecutive days. Student Health Services is closed. 4-RIDE, the campus escort van service modified its services to walking safety escorts. Dining options for students are limited, with many restaurants and stores closed. And the much-anticipated Meghan McCain speech and Rupert Murdoch's appearance on Kalb Report were cancelled due to the inclement weather.

The status of public transportation in DC and the surrounding areas is a key factor for university administrators who make the decision to cancel classes due to inclement weather. This is a record for the university for most consecutive 'snow days' and it currently seems as if it might extend to four executive days. GW is urging students to avoid walking on streets and to be cautious of tree limbs breaking off due to the heavy weight of accumulated snow.

DC snow crews have been working around the clock in 12-hour shifts since last Friday to remove the snow and fallen trees. "Considering the incredible feat they have been able to accomplish in a city that averages 15 inches a year and with little rest, I'd say our snow team is one of the strongest and most dedicated in the region," said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, who distributed hot drinks and donuts to snow plow crews.

On Tuesday evening Steven Knapp, the university president, sent out a thank you to those assisting in the impact of the storm. "You have cleared sidewalks, served meals, staffed the libraries, kept The Vern Express running, organized student activities, and made sure that our campuses remained safe and sound," wrote Knapp.

Keep checking WRGW News for updates on the storm and cancellations.

BREAKING: UNIVERSITY CLOSED TOMORROW

For the second day in a row, GW will officially cease operations and cancel all academic classes, according to University officials.

The United States government will also shut down tomorrow, in anticipation of a second storm system that is projected to dump an additional 10 to 20 inches of snow. 

Winter Storm Warning in Effect, Again

The National Weather Service has once again placed DC, Baltimore, and the surrounding counties under a Winter Storm Warning, complicating the frenetic cleanup efforts already in place.

From noon Tuesday to 7pm Wednesday the NWS expects ten to twenty inches of snow to fall in blizzard-like conditions across the Mid-Atlantic region. Additional analysis of meteorological data by the Washington Post's weather team indicates that while precipitation may be less than the storms that struck the District this weekend, a convergence of low pressure zones on Tuesday may lead to an higher-intensity blizzard, with greater odds of high winds and power outages.

There has been no word from GW Administrators as to the status of classes tomorrow, nor has WMATA announced an expansion of Metrorail service from its current underground-only mode of operation. UPDATE: All classes are cancelled for Tuesday, February 9th. WMATA expects limited service on Tuesday, check more recent posts for up-to-the-minute information.

WMATA to Continue Underground-Only Service Monday

WMATA is once again warning customers to expect severe service cutbacks on the Metrorail and Metrobus systems Monday as the agency continues cleanup efforts.

In a press release late Sunday evening Metro cautioned that Metrorail will only be operating between the following stations, and even those open to customers will be served at 24- to 30-minute intervals:

Red Line – Medical Center to Union Station and Glenmont to Forest Glen
Orange and Blue Lines – Ballston to Stadium-Armory
Green Line – Fort Totten to Congress Heights
Yellow Line – Pentagon to Crystal City

Metrorail faces two main issues: the buildup of ice and snowdrifts on the electrified third rail on sections of above ground track, and the arduous task of clearing the system's rail yards, where the trains themselves are stored. Limited numbers of cars were stored in underground tunnels to prevent ice and snow buildup, but the remainder remain largely buried in their storage areas.

Metro plans to reintroduce service to above ground tracks in phases, as various sections are cleared and deemed safe for travel.

As always, the status of the Metro system is available at www.metroopensdoors.com, and you can stay here with WRGW News for the latest updates affecting the GW community.

All Classes on Monday, February 8th Cancelled; Federal Government Closed

From GW Campus Advisories:

Monday, Feb. 8: Classes canceled; Designated Employees Only Report

All classes on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, are canceled. Designated employees should report to work. All other employees need not report.

Please continue to check Campus Advisories at http://campusadvisories.gwu.edu or GW’s Information Line at 202-994-5050 for updates affecting operations of the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses and the University’s Arlington and Alexandria locations.

For updates on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus, call 703-726-8333.

For updates on the GW Medical Center, call 202-994-3501.

UPDATE: The Office of Personnel Management has declared that all federal agencies in the Washington, DC area are CLOSED for Monday, Feburary 8th. Only emergency and telework employees are expected to report.

Winter Storm Watch Issued for Tuesday

Just as DC residents are beginning to dig out of the fourth-largest snowstorm to ever hit the city, the National Weather Service has issued a forecast that recovery officials will undoubtedly find frustrating: more snow.

The National Weather Service declared a Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon, anticipating precipitation in the form of snow and the potential for an accumulation of over five inches.

The meteorological agency predicts that temperatures will remain at or slightly above freezing at the onset of the storm Tuesday afternoon, and will then drop into the mid to upper 20s Tuesday night and Wednesday, when winds between 15 and 25mph may be present.

The National Weather Service defines a Winter Storm Watch as "a potential for significant snow accumulations that may impact travel." Stay with WRGW for the latest news affecting GW and the District at large.

Weather Update: Cancellations/Closings

This bulletin from University officials...

All academic classes from 3 p.m. onward are cancelled TODAY (2/5/10).

All SATURDAY (2/6/10) academic classes are CANCELLED.

All University administrative offices will close at 4 p.m. TODAY (2/5/10).


Please stay with WRGW News for the very latest...

DC Snowmaggedon Part II

The National Weather Service is predicting anywhere from 16 to 24 inches of snow from Friday morning to Saturday night.  The brunt of the storm will start Friday night, and get progressively worse into Saturday morning.  The heavy snowfall will undoubtedly put a  damper on people's weekend plans as sidewalks will be inaccessible and public transportation will be likely closed well into next week.

GW students might want to start stocking up on food as soon as possible, but might see huge lines at places like Trader Joe's and Safeway, setting up the perfect stage for a massive food shortage on Super Bowl weekend.

However, this is the perfect weekend to have a gigantic snowball fight, catch up on reading and homework, and make some delicious homemade hot chocolate (we here at WRGW prefer Ina Garten's recipe).

WMATA Warns of Severe Disruptions to Rail, Bus Service

WMATA is preparing for major disruptions to both Metrorail and Metrobus services throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, a press release announced today.

In reaction to a storm anticipated to be the biggest to hit the District since 1996, the transit agency has prepared twenty trains to perform track de-icing duties, prepositioned 2,200 tons of rock salt, and made available 4,500 tons of calcium chloride (a de-icing agent) to maintain service in storm-affected areas.

Despite preparations, WMATA will be forced to close aboveground Metrorail service when snow accumulation reaches eight inches, the level at which the electrified third rail begins to be covered. Current National Weather Service forecasts indicate this level of snowfall could be on the ground as early as 8pm Friday.

The limited service schedule likely to be seen on Metrorail late Friday, Saturday, and possibly Sunday is as follows:

Yellow Line – Pentagon to Crystal City only
Red Line – Medical Center to Union Station only
Orange Line – Ballston to Stadium-Armory only
Green Line – Fort Totten to Congress Heights only
Blue Line – Ballston (extended to Blue Line) and Stadium-Armory only

Metrobus service will be continuously adjusted in response to conditions on the ground, reducing service in more severely affected areas. WMATA does anticipate the complete closure of Metrobus service at some point during the storm.

WMATA encourages customers to stay up to date with Metro service changes, which may be found by visiting WMATA's website, www.metroopensdoors.com, calling 202-637-7000, or checking local media outlets (including wrgwnews.com).

DC Under Winter Storm Warning

The National Weather Service upgraded its Winter Storm Watch to a Warning Tuesday afternoon, anticipating the District of Columbia to receive three to six inches of snow over twelve hours beginning at six o'clock Tuesday evening. The most intense snowfall is expected between ten o'clock Tuesday night and four o'clock Wednesday morning.

The warning expires at seven o'clock Wednesday morning. Be sure to stay up to date with class cancellations, travel advisories and related stories right here at WRGW News.