FINAL UPDATE: Sept. 17, 2014; 8:40 p.m.
The UA campus will not be closing due to severe weather on Thursday.
“The University of Arizona Campus Emergency Response Team Executive Policy Group has evaluated current and prospective weather conditions and determined there is no cause for closing campus. All classes and business operations will continue without interruption on Thursday, Sept. 18,” said Melissa Vito, senior vice president for student affairs and enrollment management and chair of the UA Campus Emergency Response Team, in an email to all UA employees and students.
UPDATE: Sept. 17, 2014; 2:10 p.m.
UA officials will decide by tonight if they will close campus tomorrow due to severe weather, according to an email sent to university employees and students.
The email, similar to the one sent Tuesday evening, came from Melissa Vito, senior vice president for student affairs and enrollment management and chair of the UA Campus Emergency Response Team, and said the administration was monitoring the weather and the potential for flooding this evening that could last until Thursday morning.
No decision has been made at this point for whether or not the campus will close, but one will be made after 9 p.m., at which point another email will be sent to UA employees and students, Vito said in the email.
The email also advised students not to take unnecessary risks trying to get to campus in the event of flooding.
The severe weather is related to Tropical Storm Odile, which is moving into Arizona and is expected to bring heavy rains into Thursday evening.
The worst of the storm is expected to hit to the south and east of Tucson, according to the National Weather Service.
The email also advised UA employees and students to check their emails and social media for weather updates. Weather updates will also be sent to the UA homepage and through UAlert.
Check the latest from the National Weather Service here, and follow the Daily Wildcat on Twitter and check dailywildcat.com for updates on the extreme weather.
—-
INITIAL STORY: UA officials may close campus and cancel classes Wednesday due to severe weather, according to an email sent to UA students and employees.
The email, sent Tuesday evening by Melissa Vito, the senior vice president for student affairs and enrollment management and chair of the UA Campus Emergency Response Team, said the potential for severe flooding and heavy rains forecasted for the area by the National Weather Service may lead to the campus closure. The conditions are expected to last through Thursday evening, the email said.
The UA Campus Emergency Response Executive Policy Group will monitor the situation, Vito said in the email.
“The possibility of hazardous road conditions and widespread flooding is very high,” Vito said in the email.
The severe weather is related to Tropical Storm Odile, which hit Mexico and is moving overland into Southern Arizona. The chances for heavy rains and flash flooding are greatly increasing as of Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm brings the potential for three to five inches of rain across Southeast Arizona, the National Weather Service said.
“Employees and students are encouraged to plan for a severe weather emergency and to observe all travel advisories,” Vito said in the email.
“Supervisors are asked to be understanding about employees who are unable to safely travel to campus or have family situations that preclude coming to work.”
