Ohio State Columbus campus closes, classes canceled

The National Weather Service is forecasting dangerous wind chills as low as 25 degrees below zero Wednesday morning and early afternoon. As a result, The Ohio State University Columbus campus will close Tuesday, January 29 at 11 p.m. and will reopen Thursday, January 31 at 7 a.m.

The health, safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff is the university’s top priority. Some essential services remain in operation.

All classes and activities for Wednesday are canceled. The Registrar’s Office will contact all instructors with additional details.

Only essential staff should report to work, as scheduled. The following parking garages will be made available free of charge to staff: Arps, Lane Avenue, Ohio Union, South Campus Gateway, Tuttle, West Lane Avenue.

· All Wexner Medical Center locations will remain OPEN.

· Veterinary, Dentistry and Optometry clinics will remain OPEN.

· Student Life’s Student Health Services will remain OPEN.

· Some campus dining facilities will remain OPEN with limited operations.

· Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) will be limited to MC Express and Buckeye Lot staff parking. Riders can monitor buses in real-time via the Ohio State App.

The university will continue to monitor the weather to determine if additional cancellations or an extended campus closure is needed. Communications will be shared at emergency.osu.edu and via Twitter at @OSU_EMFP.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stay indoors unless it is necessary to travel. If it is necessary to travel on campus, please remember to take precautions.

· Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing.

· Wear outer garments that are tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded.

· Wear a hat – 40 percent of your body heat can be lost from your head.

· Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.

· Wear mittens that are snug at the wrist; mittens are better than gloves.

· Try to stay dry and out of the wind.