For just the third time in the past 40 years, the University of Michigan will cancel classes on its Ann Arbor campus.
UM announced it will cancel classes for Wednesday, Jan. 30, and Thursday, Jan. 31, due to pending inclement weather and expected below-freezing temperatures. The university confirmed an emergency reduction of operations was in effect from midnight Wednesday through 7 a.m. Friday.
In a Tuesday afternoon email message sent to students, faculty and staff on the Ann Arbor campus, university leaders said the reduction in operations includes the cancellation of all classroom and laboratory instruction and also extends to all non-critical services and operations.
The university last canceled classes during a snowstorm on Feb. 2, 2015, amid significant snowfall and high wind speeds.
Prior to that, UM officials canceled classes on Jan. 28, 2014, after temperatures dropped to a record-setting 11 degrees below zero with wind chills approaching minus 30 degrees. Before that, UM had not closed its campus due to severe weather during a snowstorm in January 1978.
Following the 2014 snowstorm, UM made changes to its weather policy as it pertains to staffing during severe weather situations. The policy was revised based on recommendations given by the Committee on Emergency Closure Procedures Specific to Severe Weather.
Source: “University of Michigan cancels classes for 2 days with -45 wind chill expected“, MLive, January 29, 2018.