News

The Emergency Management Operations Team is closely monitoring Hurricane Florence. Although the National Weather Service predicts landfall in North Carolina, there currently remains uncertainty regarding the system’s track, intensity and impacts to our area this week.

We will keep the Columbia community informed as conditions change. We urge all members of the Columbia community to stay informed about weather conditions and check https://preparedness.columbia.edu/  or www.columbia.edu for campus updates as the situation develops.

Students, faculty and staff should…

Columbia University continues to monitor Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advisories regarding Zika virus. These travel advisories are for much of the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America, and some areas of Southeast Asia. (See map at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/).

Snow began falling early this morning across New York City. The Emergency Management Operations Team (EMOT) is actively monitoring weather conditions. While forecasts predict a change to rain later in the day, difficult travel conditions are affecting the morning commute. Intercampus shuttles are delayed and peripheral gates are closed at Morningside for snow removal.

The current winter storm is expected to taper off during the early morning hours, and we anticipate that Columbia will resume normal campus operations for Thursday, March 22.

Columbia University has canceled classes for March 21, 2018, in light of updated forecasts predicting snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour starting as early as the morning commute and total snow accumulation of 12 to 15 inches. We encourage students to check in with their professors, as some classes may be held virtually via web conference. 

Essential personnel are expected to report to work, consistent with University Policy.  Please stay safe, exercise caution and allow extra travel time.  Non-essential personnel who are able to travel safely to work are encouraged…

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for New York City and surrounding areas from midnight tonight until 8:00 a.m. Thursday for heavy mixed winter precipitation transitioning to heavy snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the New York City metropolitan area from 8:00 p.m. Monday through noon Tuesday. The current forecast calls for snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches and slippery road conditions, including during the morning commute on Tuesday. The Emergency Management Operations Team is actively monitoring conditions.

Due to worsening weather conditions, classes at Morningside campus and the Medical Center beginning at 4:00 p.m. or later are canceled. We expect normal operations and class schedules to resume tomorrow, Thursday, March 8.

Columbia University will be open as normal tomorrow, Wednesday, March 7.  Please note that travel conditions are expected to be difficult during the morning commute. Allow extra travel time to get where you need to go. We encourage you to use mass transit for your travel as much as is possible. Employees concerned about their commute should connect with their supervisor or department administrator.

The Winter Storm Warning for New York City and surrounding areas issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) remains active.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the New York City area as it monitors a storm approaching the city from the west. This storm is expected to impact our region late Tuesday evening into Wednesday night.

The storm is predicted to produce between 6 to 12 inches of snow accumulation. The Emergency Management Operations Team (EMOT) is closely monitoring the situation and will keep the Columbia Community informed as the storm develops.

Snow began falling during the overnight in some areas outside of New York City. On campus, a light snow has recently commenced, with forecasts suggesting hourly snowfall between 0.5 and 1 inches through the morning hours, with approximately 5 to 8 inches expected by day’s end. Columbia's grounds team has been mobilized since the overnight, prepping pathways in anticipation of the snowfall, and will be hard at work throughout the day as the snow falls.

Campus is open today. The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is closed today. For any classes or events scheduled, check with the instructor or…

The snowfall in New York City is tapering off, although high winds causing snowdrifts can make it appear that snow is still falling.  Snow removal crews are working hard to clear pathways across campus.  Thank you to all University staff whose dedication and hard work have enabled business at the university to continue through the storm.

In New York City, the current snowstorm is expected to peak around mid-day, with snow tapering off in the afternoon, according to New York City officials.  Snow is expected to continue in other areas of the New York City region, in particular Long Island which is under a blizzard warning.

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory campus will be closed on January 4, 2018 due to weather conditions.  With the closure of the Lamont-Doherty campus, the shuttle bus between the Morningside and Lamont-Doherty campuses will not be operating.