Winter Weather Potential Sunday Night into Monday

Wintry precipitation is expected Sunday night through Monday. Amounts are still forecasted to remain relatively low. However, anything that falls will likely result in impacts given the very cold air that will already be in place. There is a low to medium chance of a wintry mix or freezing rain in the Fort Worth area. Impacts to travel, power, and broken tree limbs are all possible with this event.

How Cold Will it Be?

Winter Weather Preparedness

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms and blizzards can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds. Keep the following in mind during winter weather.

• Stay off roads if at all possible. If trapped in your car, then stay inside
• Limit your time outside, if you need to go outside, wear layers of warm clothing
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows, never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven
• Reduce the risk of a heart attack, avoid overexertion when shoveling snow
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and begin treatment right away
• Check on neighbor, older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme cold

Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers, and toes.

• Signs include numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin
• If you suspect frostbite go to a warm room, soak in warm water and use body heat to warm skin
• Do not massage or use a heating pad, seek medical treatment

Hypothermia is unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency.

• Signs include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness
• If you suspect hypothermia go to a warm room
• Warm the center of the body first, the chest, neck, head and groin
• Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck
• Seek medical treatment

When inclement weather conditions such as an ice or snow storm are in the forecast, TCU officials implement the Winter Weather Response Plan to monitor conditions and maintain continuity of operations. When TCU is officially closed, all students, faculty and staff members will be excused from reporting, except those considered essential to report. Contact your direct supervisor for further direction, and read more about TCU’s winter weather procedure on TCU News.

The decision to close is based on the latest information and physical conditions. Information will be posted on the TCU website. No notice will be sent or posted if the University remains open. It is also possible that some areas of Tarrant County will be more severely affected than others, so even if TCU remains open, employees should keep their personal safety uppermost in their minds. If you know your route to campus will be treacherous, do not attempt to make a dangerous trip.