In response to the extreme cold forecast to arrive this evening, Case Western Reserve will close at 7 p.m. today until 7 p.m. Thursday. The dental clinic also will be closed during this time.

Those students and faculty scheduled to be at clinical sites, evening courses or with other special circumstances tonight or Wednesday night will receive specific guidance from their schools, departments and/or professors later today.

Residence halls and student dining facilities will remain open. Members of the campus community also will be able to access the Tinkham Veale University Center via swipe card, but neither the food court nor Michelson & Morley restaurant will be open.

Campus shuttle services will run on their normal schedules, as will Safe Ride.

The university’s One to One Fitness and Next Level Fitness Studio will continue operations, but the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center and Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center will be closed.

University Health & Counseling Services will be open for urgent matters; individuals should call Counseling Services (216.368.5872) or Health Services (216.368.2450) during regular business hours for care.

As temperatures fall and wind speed picks up, the air outside at 7 p.m. will feel like 6 below zero, and become even colder throughout the night.

In addition, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Cleveland today updated its Wind Chill Warning for the region by three hours each on either end. It now starts at 1 a.m. Wednesday and continues through 4 p.m. Thursday. During this time temperatures will fall below zero, with high winds making temperatures feel closer to -25 to -35 degrees.

“This will cause life-threatening cold conditions,” the weather service wrote in its warning.

With wind chills that low, frostbite can occur within 10 minutes. Those who must be outdoors should dress as warmly as possible, wearing multiple layers and covering all exposed skin.

Get Rave Alerts

To ensure members of the campus community receive the timeliest university updates possible, please login to the university’s emergency notification system at getrave.com/login/cwru and check to see if your information is up to date and your mobile number is listed.

The university will send additional information via Rave later today regarding regular practices when the university closes, including for those individuals designated as essential personnel expected to come to campus (including select people in human resources, the controller’s office, and facilities, among others).

Preparedness Tips

Meanwhile, Cuyahoga County’s Office of Emergency Management recommends putting the following items together in preparedness kits when severe weather is expected:

For Places of Residence:

Bottled water (at least one gallon per day per person)

Non-perishable food

Flashlight

Battery-powered radio

First aid kit

Prescription medications

Fully charged cell phone and phone charger

Extra batteries

For Automobiles: