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
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Killed
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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

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

UPDATEEmail
Verified verbatim2578 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
Verify this quote
Tulane Emergency Communications Archive (Jan 21, 2025 operations update)tulane.edufind archived copies
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 verbatim279 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
Verify this quote
@Tulane on X (verbatim)x.comfind archived copies
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 verbatim273 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
Verify this quote
@Tulane on X (verbatim)x.comfind archived copies
Verified complete alert text on https://x.com/Tulane/status/1881760057194414439; archiveUrl null.
Official same-day cascade from @Tulane.
INITIAL ALERTTwitter/X+4d
Verified verbatim133 chars
Sidewalks, streets, exterior stairs, and other outdoor surfaces are icy. Tulanians: please take extra care as you move around campus.
Verify this quote
@Tulane on X (verbatim)x.comfind archived copies
Verified complete alert text on https://x.com/Tulane/status/1882110237366161463; archiveUrl null.
Official same-day cascade from @Tulane.
UPDATETwitter/X+4d
Verified verbatim272 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
Verify this quote
@Tulane on X (verbatim)x.comfind archived copies
Verified complete alert text on https://x.com/Tulane/status/1882163802495463827; archiveUrl null.
Official same-day cascade from @Tulane.
INITIAL ALERTTwitter/X+4d
Verified verbatim232 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.
Verify this quote
@Tulane on X (verbatim)x.comfind archived copies
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 Opus 5 (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

    Present, 25 of 25. The message opens "Dear Tulane Community" and is signed by President Michael A. Fitts and two senior vice presidents, naming the institution as sender without ambiguity.

    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: Tulane is named and the message is signed by the President and two senior officers.
    2. present: The university is named as Tulane and the letter is signed by its President and two vice presidents.
    3. present: The university is named and the message is signed by Tulane's president and senior officers.
    4. present: Signed by Tulane's President, Provost and COO, and the university names itself throughout.
    5. present: Signed by Tulane's president, provost and COO on behalf of the university.
    6. present: The message is from "the university" and signed by Tulane's president, provost and COO.
    7. present: Tulane is named and the message is signed by the President and two senior officers.
    8. present: Signed by President Michael A. Fitts and other Tulane officers on behalf of the university.
    9. present: It is signed by Tulane's president, provost, and chief operating officer on behalf of the university.
    10. present: The message comes from the university and is signed by its president, provost and chief operating officer.
    11. present: The letter is signed by Tulane's president and senior officers, naming the university.
    12. present: Tulane and its president and provost sign the notice as the sending university.
    13. present: Signed by Tulane's president, provost and COO, and it names "the university".
    14. present: Tulane University and three named senior officers sign the message.
    15. present: Signed by Tulane's President and senior officers, speaking as "the university".
    16. present: The message is signed by Tulane's President, Provost, and Chief Operating Officer.
    17. present: Signed by Tulane's president, provost and COO, clearly identifying the university as sender.
    18. present: It is addressed from Tulane and signed by the President, Provost and Chief Operating Officer.
    19. present: Signed by Tulane's President, Provost and COO, clearly identifying the sender.
    20. present: Tulane is named and the message is signed by the president, provost, and COO.
    21. present: Tulane and its president, provost and COO sign the message.
    22. present: Tulane University is named and the note is signed by its president and two vice presidents.
    23. present: Signed by Tulane's president, provost and chief operating officer on behalf of the university.
    24. present: It closes with the president, provost and COO of the university, clearly identifying the sender.
    25. present: Tulane is named and the message is signed by the President, Provost and COO.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The winter storm is named outright, with "the impacts of the winter weather in our region" and "the effects of snow and ice on the greater New Orleans area" identifying the hazard.

    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 names the winter storm with "snow and ice" affecting the region.
    2. present: "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the specific weather hazard.
    3. present: It names winter weather with "the effects of snow and ice" as the hazard.
    4. present: "winter weather", "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the hazard.
    5. present: The hazard is "winter weather" with "snow and ice" on the region.
    6. present: It names "winter weather", "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" as the threat.
    7. present: Winter weather with "snow and ice" is identified as the cause.
    8. present: It names "winter weather", snow and ice, and "this winter storm".
    9. present: The hazard is named as "winter weather", "snow and ice", and a "winter storm".
    10. present: Snow, ice and "this winter storm" specify the weather hazard.
    11. present: "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" specify the weather hazard.
    12. present: "winter weather", "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the hazard.
    13. present: It names "winter weather", "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" as the cause.
    14. present: Winter weather with "snow and ice" is identified as the cause of the closure.
    15. present: "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the specific weather hazard.
    16. present: It names "winter weather" with "snow and ice" affecting the region.
    17. present: "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the specific weather hazard.
    18. present: "Winter weather", "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the hazard specifically.
    19. present: "winter weather", "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the hazard specifically.
    20. present: It names "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" as the hazard.
    21. present: "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the hazard specifically.
    22. present: Winter weather, "snow and ice", is identified as the specific hazard.
    23. present: "Winter weather" with "snow and ice" is the specific hazard named.
    24. present: "winter weather" with "snow and ice" names the specific hazard.
    25. present: "winter weather", "snow and ice" and "this winter storm" name the hazard.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The message places the hazard and the response geographically: "the greater New Orleans area", the campus itself, the School of Medicine, the Primate Research Center and Howard-Tilton Memorial Library.

    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: The greater New Orleans area and the physically closed campus are specified.
    2. present: It cites "the greater New Orleans area" and campus locations being closed.
    3. present: The "greater New Orleans area" and campus locations are specified.
    4. present: "the greater New Orleans area" and campus locations are specified.
    5. present: "the greater New Orleans area" and campus buildings are specified.
    6. present: "the greater New Orleans area" and the campus are identified as affected.
    7. present: The "greater New Orleans area" and specific campus units are named.
    8. present: "the greater New Orleans area" and campus buildings are the locations given.
    9. present: It names the "greater New Orleans area" and specific campus units and buildings.
    10. present: It names the greater New Orleans area and the physically closed campus.
    11. present: "the greater New Orleans area" and the physically closed campus are identified.
    12. present: It refers to "the greater New Orleans area" and campus buildings.
    13. present: It refers to campus, the "greater New Orleans area" and named schools and buildings.
    14. present: It names the greater New Orleans area, campus, and specific units like the Primate Center.
    15. present: It names "the greater New Orleans area", campus, and specific units like the Primate Center.
    16. present: It cites "the greater New Orleans area" and the physically closed campus.
    17. present: "the greater New Orleans area" and specific campus units are named.
    18. present: It names campus and "the greater New Orleans area" as affected.
    19. present: It names the greater New Orleans area, the campus and specific units like the Primate Research Center.
    20. present: "the greater New Orleans area" and specific campus units and buildings are identified.
    21. present: The campus and "the greater New Orleans area" are named.
    22. present: The greater New Orleans area and the campus are named as affected locations.
    23. present: It names "the greater New Orleans area" and the physically closed campus.
    24. present: "the greater New Orleans area" and the physical campus are named.
    25. present: It covers the university campus and "the greater New Orleans area".
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Recipients are told what to do: the university "will continue operating remotely", classes "should proceed in an online format", essential personnel report, "non-essential staff should work remotely".

    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. present: Non-essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone should monitor email for updates.
    2. present: Non-essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone should "continue to monitor your email".
    3. present: Staff are told to work remotely and to "continue to monitor your email for any updates".
    4. present: Non essential staff "should work remotely" and readers should "continue to monitor your email for any updates".
    5. present: Employees are told to work remotely, faculty to hold classes online, and everyone to monitor email.
    6. present: Staff are told to work remotely, faculty to hold classes online, and all to monitor email for updates.
    7. present: Non-essential staff are told to work remotely and to monitor email for updates.
    8. present: Non-essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone should "continue to monitor your email".
    9. present: Non essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone is told to "continue to monitor your email".
    10. present: Non-essential staff should work remotely and everyone should "continue to monitor your email for any updates".
    11. present: Non essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone should "continue to monitor your email".
    12. present: Non-essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone should "monitor your email for any updates".
    13. present: Non essential staff "should work remotely" and readers should "continue to monitor your email for any updates".
    14. present: Non essential staff are told to work remotely and everyone to monitor email for updates.
    15. present: "non-essential staff should work remotely" and "continue to monitor your email" instruct recipients.
    16. present: Non-essential staff are told to work remotely and everyone to "continue to monitor your email for any updates".
    17. present: "non-essential staff should work remotely" and "continue to monitor your email for any updates" instruct recipients.
    18. present: Faculty are told to hold classes online and non-essential staff to "work remotely" and monitor email.
    19. present: Non-essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone should "continue to monitor your email".
    20. present: Non-essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone should "continue to monitor your email".
    21. present: Non essential staff "should work remotely" and everyone should "continue to monitor your email".
    22. present: Non essential staff are told to work remotely and everyone to monitor email for updates.
    23. present: Staff are told to work remotely, faculty to move classes online, and all to "continue to monitor your email".
    24. present: Non-essential staff "should work remotely" and readers must "continue to monitor your email".
    25. present: Non essential staff "should work remotely" and readers should "continue to monitor your email".
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Dated instructions run through the message, including closure "on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and resumption of normal operations "on Thursday, Jan. 23".

    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 gives dates: closed Wednesday, Jan. 22, resuming Thursday, Jan. 23.
    2. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and the Thursday reopening date set the timeline precisely.
    3. present: Precise dates appear, including closure "on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and resumption Jan. 23.
    4. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" fix the timing.
    5. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and a Thursday resumption date are given.
    6. present: It names "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and a Thursday resumption date.
    7. present: Dates such as "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and Thursday resumption are given.
    8. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" give exact dates.
    9. present: Exact dates are given, closed Wednesday Jan. 22 and resuming Thursday, Jan. 23.
    10. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" date the closure and reopening.
    11. present: Specific dates, "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23", set the timeline.
    12. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" give exact timing.
    13. present: Specific dates such as "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" appear.
    14. present: Specific dates such as Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 and Thursday, Jan. 23 appear.
    15. present: Specific dates, "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23", set the timing.
    16. present: It specifies "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and a planned return on "Thursday, Jan. 23".
    17. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" pin the closure window.
    18. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" give explicit dates.
    19. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" give explicit dates.
    20. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" give exact dates.
    21. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" fix the timing.
    22. present: Specific dates, Wednesday Jan. 22 and Thursday Jan. 23, are given.
    23. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" fix the timing.
    24. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" give exact dates.
    25. present: "Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025" and "Thursday, Jan. 23" set the timeframe.
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Consequences are stated plainly: "deteriorated road conditions" and "the continued closure of schools and other services in the region" that force the campus to stay physically closed.

    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. present: "Deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures state a concrete hazardous consequence.
    2. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and continuing impacts state the concrete consequence of the storm.
    3. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures state concrete consequences of the storm.
    4. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures state the concrete effects of the storm.
    5. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures state a real consequence of the storm.
    6. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and region wide school and service closures convey real hazard severity.
    7. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures convey real hazard severity.
    8. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures state a concrete hazardous consequence.
    9. present: It cites "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures as the concrete effects driving the decision.
    10. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and continued regional closures state a tangible hazardous effect.
    11. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional service closures state a concrete effect of the storm.
    12. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional service closures state real consequences of the storm.
    13. present: It cites "deteriorated road conditions" and continued regional closures as the effects driving the decision.
    14. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional school closures convey concrete consequences.
    15. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures state a concrete consequence of the storm.
    16. present: It cites "deteriorated road conditions" and continued closure of schools and services, real consequences of the storm.
    17. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and region wide closures convey the storm's dangerous effects.
    18. present: "Deteriorated road conditions" and "continued closure of schools and other services" state real consequences.
    19. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures convey the storm's harmful effects.
    20. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures describe concrete effects of the storm.
    21. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures of schools and services state the storm's effects.
    22. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures state a concrete consequence of the storm.
    23. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures convey the danger driving the decision.
    24. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and closures of regional schools convey concrete consequences.
    25. present: "deteriorated road conditions" and regional closures convey the storm's real effects.

Coded by Claude Opus 5

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

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  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