Freezing Rain Advisory Issued for Overnight

Duke officials are closely monitoring weather forecasts for Friday night and Saturday morning for central North Carolina that include the chance for freezing rain overnight.

The National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory from 7 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday for the Triangle area. Freezing rain could result in hazardous travel conditions with ice accrual ranging from a trace to several hundredths of an inch, mainly confined to elevated surfaces. Travelers are urged to use extreme caution on bridges, overpasses and sidewalks.

Duke officials are monitoring the forecasts and will distribute additional communications if conditions warrant but do not anticipate activating the Severe Weather and Emergency Conditions policy at this time.

If Duke activates the Severe Weather and Emergency Conditions policy, officials will send notification via the DukeALERT system, including text message, email, the DukeALERT website and the web alert bar. A message also will be recorded on the severe weather/emergency conditions telephone line at 684-INFO (4636). Faculty and staff who are not already registered should sign up for text message updates from the DukeALERT system.

Staff should review Duke's severe weather and emergency conditions policy to ensure understanding of their role for what they should do if the policy is activated.

During times of severe weather, some staff positions require on-site presence to continue operations. All jobs should be assigned a service category by the manager to ensure continuous operations of patient care, student support and research functions. Managers should ensure staff members are aware of the service category for their position and how they will be notified if the severe weather policy is activated. The three categories are:

• Essential Service: during severe weather/emergency conditions, essential service staff report or remain at work. Transportation service and childcare services may be provided for those required to work during severe weather/emergency conditions. 

• Reserve Service: during severe weather/emergency conditions, reserve service staff are assigned a status at the time of severe weather/emergency condition.

• Delayed Service: during severe weather/emergency conditions, delayed service staff do not report to work or remain at work.

More information about the policy, including a map of priorities for clearing roads, lots and sidewalks, checklists and answers to frequently asked questions, is available at the DukeALERT emergency website.