[phas-undergrad] Likely winter weather this weekend.

Tue Jan 20 09:39:04 CST 2026

Good morning everyone,

This email is to inform you, in case you did not know, that a strong winter storm may hit the area this weekend.  I also will provide a few rules about potential winter weather closures and some safety information, especially for our international students and any others who are new to a north Texas winter.

First: the weather forecast.  The latter half of the week will be cool and cloudy with occasional rain, and we will have rain on and off through Friday.  No hazardous conditions are expected before Friday night at around 9pm (note: exact timing may change).  Sometime during the night Friday, temperatures will drop below freezing, and the precipitation will change to either snow, sleet, or freezing rain.  At this time, it is too early to tell what kind of precipitation we will get in Commerce, and other parts of north Texas may get different types of precipitation.  The precipitation will end late in the day on Saturday.  However, the temperatures will get dangerously cold Saturday night, and we may not see temperatures above freezing until Monday around noon.  Again, exact times may change.

It is possible that the university may decide to close at some point during this event.  If this happens, you will get emails and Lion Safe app alerts that will tell you exactly what conditions are expected and what kind of things are closed.  Here are some possible scenarios:

  *   It is most likely that during a closure all classes will be temporarily moved on-line.  My guess is that this is possible Friday afternoon and/or Monday morning.  If this happens, your instructors will communicate through email and/or D2L as to what online activities you should do.  University closure does NOT mean in-person classes are cancelled; it means they are to be moved online for the duration of the closure.
  *   If the university is closed, then the Science Building is closed and must not be entered for the duration of the closure.
  *   If the university is closed, residence halls will remain open, and the dining hall in the Sam Rayburn Facility will be open if at all possible.  Often the library and the rec center are kept open as well, if staff can get in.  If you are in the area and lose heat or electricity, feel free to make use of these areas to keep warm.
  *   If the university is open but you feel it is unsafe to get to campus, then please contact your instructors, let them know the situation, and ask if you can turn in work online or have an extension.  It is fully up to your instructor to decide what is appropriate and allowable.

Finally, some safety tips.  If you haven't been in winter weather before, the most dangerous aspect is what is usually called the "wind chill."  The wind will chill you faster the faster it is blowing; humidity plays a role too.  (This is just thermodynamics!!)  I've posted a windchill chart below; note the units are temperature in Fahrenheit and wind speed in miles per hour.  Basically, if the wind is blowing, you will lose body heat faster.  The chart is color-coded for time needed to get frostbite (frozen skin that requires medical attention), but there is also a serious risk for hypothermia.  On Saturday and Sunday, make sure to cover as much of your skin as possible before heading outside.  Better yet, just don't go outside unless it is absolutely necessary.  If you do go out, wear dry clothes, wear layers, stay covered, and stay informed about the weather.

Finally, when winter weather is forecast, Texans tend to go to the stores ahead of time an buy way too much food.  My suggestion would be to make sure that by midday on Thursday you have enough food in your apartment to last you until Tuesday.   If you wait until Friday to go to the store, they might be out of some staples like milk, bread, and rice, plus random other things.

Stay warm and be safe this coming weekend!  And watch your email and Lion Safe for official updates.

Cheers,
Dr. Williams

[cid:image002.png at 01DC89F0.9D4678F0]

[cid:image003.gif at 01DC89F0.9D4678F0]

Dr. Kurtis A. Williams (he/him/his)

Professor and Department Head

Department of Physics & Astronomy<https://www.etamu.edu/physics>

P: 903.886.5488

[East Texas A&M logo]<https://www.etamu.edu/>

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