To ensure our operations and public safety teams can safely, quickly and effectively do their jobs in the coming days, Chancellor Roberts has declared a Campus State of Emergency effective Saturday, Jan. 24 and expiring Tuesday, Jan. 27. To ensure emergency hospital access and allow for effective ice removal, this includes a restriction on personal vehicular traffic:
Unless a person is a member of a public safety agency, a healthcare employee, or campus or local essential staff, vehicular access within the jurisdictional boundaries of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, shall be restricted from the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. nightly while this declaration is in effect, or unless this restriction is otherwise lifted. Vehicle access for the purposes of emergency medical care shall not be restricted.
University services from energy to transportation to dining have been preparing for the possibility of power outages, hazardous travel conditions and other local service disruptions due to adverse weather. Campus will have notably reduced operations during this winter weather event.
We urge students to stay at home, stay prepared and stay safe. Streets and sidewalks may be icy and public transportation limited. Staying home allows our first responders and facilities staff the space they need to safely respond as quickly as possible to emergencies and clear our roads and sidewalks.
We are committed to prioritizing safety. If you have not already, ensure that you are signed up to receive text messages from Alert Carolina. This is the best way to receive the most up-to-date information and how we will communicate any changes to the campus condition. For other updates and information, visit our Winter Weather January 2026 webpage.