Campus Alert Archive
Tulane

Rare blizzard with about 10 inches of snow closed campus; operations moved to remote

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LAwinter stormadvisoryhigh confidence
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Confirmed Threat

On January 17, 2025, Tulane University announced that it would shift to remote operations and physically close on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 due to the historic Gulf Coast blizzard (informally Winter Storm Enzo). New Orleans recorded approximately 10 inches of snowfall (among the highest totals in city history) and conditions were severe enough that Tulane extended remote operations into Wednesday, January 22. Classes transitioned to an online format and only essential personnel reported to campus.

Alerts
6
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
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Institution
Tulane University
Private R1 · LA
All Tulane cases →
~14,000 studentsTU Alerts
Official alert policy
Read when and how Tulane says it will use TU Alert (Everbridge): summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

6 messages in sequence · 6 verified verbatim

UPDATEEmail
Verified verbatimTulane Emergency Communications Archive (Jan 21, 2025 operations update)2578 chars
Dear Tulane Community, We continue to closely monitor the impacts of the winter weather in our region. Due to the expected continual impacts of this weather and deteriorated road conditions, the university will continue operating remotely and will remain physically closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, except for essential personnel. This decision was made considering the effects of snow and ice on the greater New Orleans area and the continued closure of schools and other services in the region. Employees within the School of Medicine and the Tulane National Primate Research Center will receive direct communication from their leadership regarding any changes to their operations. The university plans to resume on-site classes, work, and normal operations on Thursday, Jan. 23. Academic schedule Classes scheduled for Wednesday should proceed in an online format. Faculty are encouraged to hold classes at their regularly scheduled times online, if possible. If conducting an online class is not feasible, alternative arrangements should be made to recover the lost class time. One available option is to use the Spring 2025 Designated Make-up Day Two, scheduled for Sunday, March 16. This would allow faculty to hold Wednesday’s classes at their regular times and campus locations on that day. Faculty should communicate their plans for Wednesday’s classes with their students as soon as possible. Essential employees Essential personnel, including employees providing patient care in clinics or hospitals, engineers managing buildings, security personnel, vivarium staff managing animals, technicians performing experiments, pharmacy employees, occupational medicine, and other staff will be required to report to campus as scheduled while non-essential staff should work remotely. Please coordinate with your managers directly. Additional details For information on dining services available today and tomorrow, please visit the Tulane Hospitality website. The Howard-Tilton Memorial Library is closed today but will open in limited capacity tomorrow. Additionally, please refer to the university’s previous communications regarding weather impacts, preparations, and operational adjustments. Please continue to monitor your email for any updates from the Office of Emergency Preparedness & Response. Thank you for your patience as we navigate the challenges of this winter storm. Sincerely, Michael A. Fitts, President Robin Forman, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Patrick Norton, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
The phrase 'continue to maintain remote operations' signals a closure extension rather than a fresh new closure, a subtle but important framing that helps the community understand the storm's prolonged impact
Tulane Medical Center reported delivering at least three 'blizzard babies' during the closure, illustrating that for academic medical centers, 'closure' never includes essential clinical operations
INITIAL ALERTTwitter/X
Verified verbatim@Tulane on X (verbatim)279 chars
Due to forecasted winter weather, Tulane will shift to remote operations and will be physically closed on Tuesday, Jan. 21, except for essential personnel. Classes scheduled for Tuesday will transition to an online format. Read the full announcement: http://tulane.edu/emergency
The post was published on the official @Tulane Twitter/X account at 7:48 PM CST on January 17, 2025 (time decoded from the X status ID), a pre-storm advisory issued ahead of Winter Storm Enzo's arrival on January 21, 2025
The phrasing 'shift to remote operations and will be physically closed' is a hedged form of 'closure' that allows continuity of academic and research activities while clearing campus of non-essential personnel
The reference to 'essential personnel' as an exception encompasses Tulane's medical center staff, clinic providers, and research-vivarium operations; Tulane has both an academic and a major medical complex
Corrected to exact fxtwitter display text.
Verified complete alert text on https://x.com/Tulane/status/1880432067005087974; archiveUrl null.
UPDATETwitter/X+3d
Verified verbatim@Tulane on X (verbatim)273 chars
Tulane will continue to maintain remote operations and will be physically closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22, except for essential personnel. Classes scheduled for Wednesday will transition to an online format. Please read the full announcement here: http://tulane.edu/emergency
Verified complete alert text on https://x.com/Tulane/status/1881760057194414439; archiveUrl null.
Official same-day cascade from @Tulane.
INITIAL ALERTTwitter/X+4d
Verified verbatim@Tulane on X (verbatim)133 chars
Sidewalks, streets, exterior stairs, and other outdoor surfaces are icy. Tulanians: please take extra care as you move around campus.
Verified complete alert text on https://x.com/Tulane/status/1882110237366161463; archiveUrl null.
Official same-day cascade from @Tulane.
UPDATETwitter/X+4d
Verified verbatim@Tulane on X (verbatim)272 chars
Tulane will continue to maintain remote operations and will be physically closed on Thursday, Jan. 23, except for essential personnel. Classes scheduled for Thursday will transition to an online format. Please read the full announcement here: https://tulane.edu/emergency
Verified complete alert text on https://x.com/Tulane/status/1882163802495463827; archiveUrl null.
Official same-day cascade from @Tulane.
INITIAL ALERTTwitter/X+4d
Verified verbatim@Tulane on X (verbatim)232 chars
TU Alert: Please do not cross any caution tape on campus. Be aware of melting snow and ice falling off buildings and trees as it has the potential to cause injury. Stay cautious while walking across campus. Your safety is important.
Verified complete alert text on https://x.com/Tulane/status/1882169361680757026; archiveUrl null.
Official same-day cascade from @Tulane.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Dear Tulane Community, We continue to closely monitor the impacts of the winter weather in our region. Due to the expected continual impacts of this weather and deteriorated road conditions, the university will continue operating remotely and will remain physically closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, except for essential personnel. This decision was made considering the effects of snow and ice on the greater New Orleans area and the continued closure of schools and other services in the region. Employees within the School of Medicine and the Tulane National Primate Research Center will receive direct communication from their leadership regarding any changes to their operations. The university plans to resume on-site classes, work, and normal operations on Thursday, Jan. 23. Academic schedule Classes scheduled for Wednesday should proceed in an online format. Faculty are encouraged to hold classes at their regularly scheduled times online, if possible. If conducting an online class is not feasible, alternative arrangements should be made to recover the lost class time. One available option is to use the Spring 2025 Designated Make-up Day Two, scheduled for Sunday, March 16. This would allow faculty to hold Wednesday’s classes at their regular times and campus locations on that day. Faculty should communicate their plans for Wednesday’s classes with their students as soon as possible. Essential employees Essential personnel, including employees providing patient care in clinics or hospitals, engineers managing buildings, security personnel, vivarium staff managing animals, technicians performing experiments, pharmacy employees, occupational medicine, and other staff will be required to report to campus as scheduled while non-essential staff should work remotely. Please coordinate with your managers directly. Additional details For information on dining services available today and tomorrow, please visit the Tulane Hospitality website. The Howard-Tilton Memorial Library is closed today but will open in limited capacity tomorrow. Additionally, please refer to the university’s previous communications regarding weather impacts, preparations, and operational adjustments. Please continue to monitor your email for any updates from the Office of Emergency Preparedness & Response. Thank you for your patience as we navigate the challenges of this winter storm. Sincerely, Michael A. Fitts, President Robin Forman, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Patrick Norton, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that the sender is identified: it names "Tulane" as the issuing institution.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It names "Tulane" as the institution issuing the message.
    2. present: It names "Tulane", the university identifying itself as sender.
    3. present: The text names "Tulane", the university naming itself as sender.
    4. present: It names "Tulane" as the institution issuing the message.
    5. present: It names "Tulane", the university identifying itself.
    6. present: It names "Tulane," the university identifying itself.
    7. present: It names "Tulane", the university identifying itself.
    8. present: Names "Tulane", the university identifying itself.
    9. present: It names "Tulane" as the self-referencing sender.
    10. present: It names "Tulane", the university identifying itself as the sender.
    11. present: It names "Tulane" as the issuing university.
    12. present: It names "Tulane" as the university issuing the notice.
    13. present: It names "Tulane", the university identifying itself as sender.
    14. present: It names "Tulane", the university identifying itself as sender.
    15. present: It names "Tulane," the university identifying itself as sender.
    16. present: It names "Tulane", the university identifying itself as sender.
    17. present: It names "Tulane", the university naming itself as the source.
    18. present: It names "Tulane" as the entity shifting operations, identifying the source.
    19. present: It names "Tulane", the university, as the sender.
    20. present: It names "Tulane" naming itself, identifying the issuer.
    21. present: It names "Tulane" identifying the university as sender.
    22. present: It names "Tulane" identifying itself as the sender.
    23. present: It names "Tulane," identifying the university sender.
    24. present: It names "Tulane" as the entity shifting operations, identifying the sender.
    25. present: It names "Tulane" as the institution issuing the message.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that a specific hazard is named: "forecasted winter weather".

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It cites "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    2. present: It cites "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    3. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    4. present: It states "forecasted winter weather", a specific weather hazard.
    5. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    6. present: It cites "forecasted winter weather," a specific hazard.
    7. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific weather hazard.
    8. present: Names "forecasted winter weather", a specific threat.
    9. present: It names "forecasted winter weather" as the specific threat.
    10. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    11. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    12. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    13. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    14. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific weather hazard.
    15. present: It names "forecasted winter weather," a specific threat.
    16. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    17. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific weather hazard.
    18. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    19. present: It states "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    20. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    21. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    22. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    23. present: It names "forecasted winter weather," a specific hazard.
    24. present: It names "forecasted winter weather", a specific hazard.
    25. present: It names "winter weather" as the hazard.
  • Locationpresent21/25

    Final assessment

    Present by majority: most reads accept Tulane being "physically closed" as implying the campus location; a minority found no specific place beyond the institution name.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", implying the campus location.
    2. present: It implies the location as Tulane and references it being "physically closed".
    3. absent: It says Tulane will be "physically closed" but names no building, street, or campus-area place.
    4. present: It refers to the Tulane campus being "physically closed", identifying the location.
    5. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", its campus location.
    6. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed," its campus location.
    7. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", referencing the campus.
    8. absent: Says only "physically closed" without a specific place beyond Tulane itself.
    9. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", implying the campus location.
    10. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", implying the campus location.
    11. present: It refers to "Tulane" campus as the location being closed.
    12. present: It references the Tulane campus being "physically closed", a place.
    13. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", locating it at the campus.
    14. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", indicating the campus location.
    15. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed," implying the campus location.
    16. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", implying the campus, a location.
    17. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", implying the campus location.
    18. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", implying the campus location.
    19. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", implying the campus location.
    20. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", implying the campus location.
    21. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed", a campus location.
    22. present: It refers to the campus being "physically closed", a campus location.
    23. present: It refers to Tulane being "physically closed," implying the campus location.
    24. absent: It says Tulane will close but names no specific place or "campus" location word.
    25. absent: It says Tulane is "physically closed" but names no specific campus place.
  • Guidanceabsent2/25

    Final assessment

    Absent by strong majority: it announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: It announces remote operations but gives no protective action to the recipient.
    2. absent: It informs of remote operations but gives recipients no protective action.
    3. absent: It announces remote operations but gives no protective action instruction to recipients.
    4. absent: It announces remote operations but gives no protective action instruction to recipients.
    5. absent: It describes operational changes but gives no protective instruction to recipients.
    6. absent: It announces remote operations, not a protective action for recipients.
    7. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action to take.
    8. present: Tells recipients to "Read the full announcement" at the URL.
    9. absent: It announces remote operations but gives no protective action instruction to recipients.
    10. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action to take.
    11. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action to take.
    12. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action.
    13. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action instruction.
    14. absent: It announces remote operations but gives no protective action instruction to recipients.
    15. absent: It announces remote operations and closure but directs no protective action to recipients.
    16. present: It tells recipients classes "will transition to an online format", directing their action.
    17. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action to take.
    18. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action instruction.
    19. absent: It announces remote operations but gives no protective instruction to recipients.
    20. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action instruction.
    21. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action instruction.
    22. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action.
    23. absent: It announces remote operations but gives recipients no protective action instruction.
    24. absent: It announces remote operations but gives no protective action instruction beyond reading an announcement.
    25. absent: It announces remote operations but gives no protective action to recipients.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that a date is present: "Tuesday, Jan. 21".

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific date.
    2. present: It gives a date, "Tuesday, Jan. 21", conveying when.
    3. present: It states recency with "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific day and date.
    4. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific date.
    5. present: It states the date "Tuesday, Jan. 21".
    6. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21," a specific date.
    7. present: It specifies "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a day and date.
    8. present: Gives the date "Tuesday, Jan. 21".
    9. present: It states the date "Tuesday, Jan. 21".
    10. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific day and date.
    11. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific date.
    12. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific date.
    13. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific day and date.
    14. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific day and date.
    15. present: It gives "Tuesday, Jan. 21," a date reference.
    16. present: It gives a date, "Tuesday, Jan. 21".
    17. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific day and date.
    18. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific day and date.
    19. present: It gives a date, "Tuesday, Jan. 21", conveying when.
    20. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific date.
    21. present: It gives "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a specific date.
    22. present: It states "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a date.
    23. present: It specifies "Tuesday, Jan. 21," a date.
    24. present: It gives a date, "Tuesday, Jan. 21", a time reference.
    25. present: It gives a date, "Tuesday, Jan. 21."
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Absent, unanimous. Reads agree the winter-storm message conveys closure or disruption without stating a specific danger or harm.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: Announces remote operations for forecasted winter weather with no stated specific danger.
    2. absent: Announces remote operations and closure for winter weather without stating any danger or harm.
    3. absent: Shifts to remote operations for winter weather with no stated danger or harm.
    4. absent: It announces a shift to remote operations for forecasted winter weather but states no danger or harm.
    5. absent: Shifts to remote operations for forecasted winter weather without stating any danger or harm.
    6. absent: Announces remote operations due to forecasted winter weather without stating explicit danger or harm.
    7. absent: It announces remote operations and closure for winter weather with no stated harm or danger.
    8. absent: Shifting to remote operations for winter weather states no specific harm or danger.
    9. absent: Shifts to remote operations for forecasted winter weather without stating harm or danger.
    10. absent: Shifts to remote operations for winter weather without stating any danger or harm.
    11. absent: It announces a remote-operations closure for winter weather without stating any harm or danger.
    12. absent: It announces a remote-operations closure for winter weather without stating any danger or harm.
    13. absent: It announces a shift to remote operations for winter weather without stating any danger or potential harm.
    14. absent: It announces a shift to remote operations due to forecasted winter weather with no stated harm.
    15. absent: Announces remote operations due to forecasted winter weather but states no danger or harm.
    16. absent: Announces remote operations and closure for winter weather without stating any harm.
    17. absent: A winter weather remote-operations notice that states no specific harm or danger.
    18. absent: It announces a remote-operations closure for forecasted winter weather without stating any specific harm or danger.
    19. absent: A remote-operations notice for forecasted winter weather with no stated harm or danger.
    20. absent: Announces remote operations and closure for winter weather without stating any harm or severity.
    21. absent: It announces a shift to remote operations for forecasted winter weather but states no explicit danger or harm.
    22. absent: It announces a remote-operations closure due to winter weather but states no harm, danger, or severity.
    23. absent: Shifts to remote operations for winter weather without stating any specific danger or harm.
    24. absent: It announces a closure and remote operations due to winter weather without stating any harm.
    25. absent: It only announces a shift to remote operations and closure for winter weather without stating any harm.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Tulane University is a private R1 doctoral institution in New Orleans, Louisiana, with about 14,000 students and a large academic medical center. Winter Storm Enzo (officially the 2025 Gulf Coast blizzard) was a rare and unusually strong winter storm that brought blizzard conditions to the U.S. Gulf Coast between January 20 and 22, 2025, a region that almost never sees significant snowfall. New Orleans recorded approximately 10 inches of snow, among the highest totals in city history, and Baton Rouge recorded a temperature of 7 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest measured there in 95 years. On the evening of January 17, 2025, Tulane announced via its official X account that it would shift to remote operations and physically close on Tuesday, January 21, except for essential personnel. Classes transitioned to an online format. Tulane extended the closure into Wednesday, January 22 as conditions persisted. The Tulane School of Medicine reported that only essential personnel were required to report to provide patient care, manage labs and animal facilities, and maintain critical research. Tulane Medical Center successfully delivered 'blizzard babies' during the storm, illustrating the academic medical center's distinctive operational continuity even during severe-weather closures. Roads in Baton Rouge (home to LSU) remained closed Wednesday and Thursday, and LSU also canceled classes. Winter Storm Enzo killed at least five people regionally.
Analysis

Key Findings

Tulane's advance notice of more than three days (issued the evening of Jan. 17 for a Jan. 21 closure) is unusually long for a university weather closure announcement and reflects the rarity and forecast confidence for the Gulf Coast blizzard
The shift to 'remote operations' rather than full closure preserves academic continuity while clearing non-essential staff, a model that became more common after COVID-19 normalized synchronous online instruction
Tulane's academic medical center never fully closes; the 'essential personnel' designation specifically protected clinical operations during blizzard conditions previously unprecedented in southern Louisiana
The 2025 Gulf Coast blizzard was an unusual test for southern-state campus emergency planning: institutions like Tulane and LSU rarely face winter storms severe enough to require multi-day closures and had to adapt rapidly
Outcome
No injuries occurred at Tulane. The university shifted to remote operations and was physically closed on Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Classes were moved to an online format. Essential personnel including hospital and clinic staff, security, vivarium technicians, and pharmacy employees reported as scheduled. Tulane Medical Center reported successfully delivering 'blizzard babies' during the storm. The 2025 Gulf Coast blizzard caused at least 5 deaths regionally and brought the lowest temperatures recorded in southern Louisiana in 95 years.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Social
    Tulane on X: Winter weather closure announcement
    x.com
    archived copy
  2. Official
    From frostbite to blizzard babies: Tulane Medicine teams winter the storm (Tulane Medicine)
    medicine.tulane.edu
    archived copy
  3. Official
    School of Medicine Winter Weather Updates (Tulane Medicine)
    medicine.tulane.edu
    archived copy
  4. Source
    2025 Gulf Coast blizzard (Wikipedia)
    en.wikipedia.org
    archived copy
  5. News
    Rare winter storm brings heavy snow, sleet and ice to South Louisiana (WWNO)
    wwno.org
    archived copy
  6. Official
    Emergency Information (Tulane)
    tulane.edu
    archived copy
  7. Social
    Tulane on Instagram: continued remote operations notice
    instagram.com
    archived copy
  8. official
    Tulane Emergency Communications Archive (Jan 21, 2025 operations update)
    tulane.edu
    archived copy
  9. Social
    @Tulane X cascade 1881760057194414439
    x.com
    archived copy
  10. Social
    @Tulane X cascade 1882110237366161463
    x.com
    archived copy
  11. Social
    @Tulane X cascade 1882163802495463827
    x.com
    archived copy
  12. Social
    @Tulane X cascade 1882169361680757026
    x.com
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Tulane University: Rare blizzard with about 10 inches of snow closed campus; operations moved to remote." Incident of January 21, 2025. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/tulane-university-winter-storm-enzo-2025-01-21/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
winter-stormblizzardlouisianaprivate-r1tulaneremote-operationsgulf-coast-blizzardverbatimwinter-storm-enzo
Added May 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion