{
  "id": "2026-01-25-cornell-university-winter-storm-closure",
  "slug": "cornell-university-winter-storm-closure-2026-01-25",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Cornell University",
    "shortName": "Cornell",
    "state": "NY",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "CornellALERT",
    "enrollment": 25582
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2026-01-25",
    "endDate": "2026-01-26",
    "type": "winter-storm",
    "cleryCategory": "advisory",
    "resolution": "contained",
    "headline": "Campuses closed for winter storm starting Sunday noon; reopened Monday noon",
    "headlinePublic": "Campuses closed for winter storm starting Sunday noon; reopened Monday noon",
    "summary": "On January 24, 2026, Cornell [announced](https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/wx-cornell-ithaca-campus-closing-day-date-at-time/) that Ithaca and AgriTech campuses would close starting Sunday, Jan. 25 at noon for hazardous weather, then [reopened Monday, Jan. 26 at noon](https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/wx-cornell-ithaca-campus-opening/).",
    "outcome": "Closure from Sunday noon through Monday noon; classes/exams canceled during closure; campuses reopened Monday at noon with continued snow removal and slippery-surface cautions.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2026-01-24T18:00:00-05:00",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Cornell’s Ithaca and AgriTech campuses are CLOSED starting Sunday, Jan. 25 at 12 p.m. (noon) due to hazardous weather conditions.\n\nThe university will potentially reopen at 12 p.m. (noon) Monday, Jan 26. University leaders will continue to evaluate travel conditions and send an update message Monday morning to confirm reopening plans.\n\nClasses, exams, events, and activities scheduled from 12 p.m. Sunday through 12 p.m. Monday are canceled, and campus services will operate on a limited basis.\n\nFor Students: Residence halls remain open, and students should limit outdoor exposure. Real-time information about Dining and other Student and Campus Life services is available at https://scl.cornell.edu/about-scl/campus-emergency-updates.\n\nFor Staff: Personnel responsible for providing essential services should report to work per their departments’ instructions. Please avoid undue risks when traveling and consult with your supervisor if you have questions about scheduling.\n\nFor Instructional Staff: All classes and exams are canceled while the university is closed. Contact the Office of the University Registrar at https://registrar.cornell.edu for assistance in rescheduling exams when the university reopens.\n\nCampus Services: Cornell University Library, The Cornell Store, and all on-campus retail stores are closed starting at 12 p.m. Sunday until a decision is made to reopen.\n\nFor the latest TCAT bus operating status, visit https://tcatbus.com/.\n\nFor information about pay practices during closures, refer to https://hr.cornell.edu/about/employment-policy-practice/employment-policies/inclement-weather.\n\nCrews will be working throughout the storm to maintain safe conditions on campus, but cold temperatures and heavy snowfall may cause surfaces to remain snow covered and slippery.\n\nYou can check the university operating status at https://emergency.cornell.edu, or by calling the Inclement Weather phone at 607-255-3377.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/wx-cornell-ithaca-campus-closing-day-date-at-time/",
      "sourceDescription": "Cornell Office of Emergency Management — campus closing notice (Jan 24, 2026)",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete closure notice from official emergency.cornell.edu Cornell Alerts archive.",
        "Subject/title on archive: CornellALERT Ithaca Campus: Cornell University is CLOSED starting Sunday, Jan. 25 at 12 p.m. (noon)."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1936
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Cornell’s Ithaca and AgriTech campuses reopened Monday, Jan. 26, at 12 p.m. (noon). Classes, exams, events, and activities scheduled to begin after Monday at noon will be held as planned.\n\nCrews continue to work on roadway, parking lot, and sidewalk snow removal. Please park in plowed parking spaces and use caution as surfaces may be slippery due to snow and ice.\n\nAfter the university opens, employees are expected to make reasonable efforts to maintain their regular work schedules. Please use your best judgment in deciding whether conditions in your area are safe enough for travel. Employees who do not report to work when the university opens are not required to provide advance notice to use accrued time, but should contact their supervisors as soon as possible. To avoid using accrued time, employees must make arrangements in advance with their supervisors to work at home or to make up the time later in this pay period, if possible.\n\nFor information about working during university closures, refer to https://hr.cornell.edu/about/employment-policy-practice/employment-policies/inclement-weather.\n\nFor the latest TCAT operating status, visit https://tcatbus.com/.\n\nAdditional information on the university operating status and campus services can be found at https://emergency.cornell.edu/.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/wx-cornell-ithaca-campus-opening/",
      "sourceDescription": "Cornell Office of Emergency Management — campus reopening notice (Jan 26, 2026)",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete reopening notice from official Cornell Alerts archive."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1303,
      "timestampApprox": "Monday, January 26, 2026 at 12 p.m. (noon) reopening as stated in the message"
    }
  ],
  "context": "A mid-January 2026 winter storm closed Cornell’s Ithaca and AgriTech campuses from Sunday noon Jan. 25 through Monday noon Jan. 26. Official notices are preserved on [emergency.cornell.edu Cornell Alerts](https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/). Sibling Jan 25, 2026 weather closures exist at other institutions (including Princeton).",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official archive preserves full multi-audience closure guidance (students, staff, instructional staff, campus services)",
    "Reopening message pairs operational status with snow-removal and travel judgment guidance"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Cornell Alerts — campus CLOSED starting Sunday Jan. 25 noon",
      "url": "https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/wx-cornell-ithaca-campus-closing-day-date-at-time/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Cornell Alerts — campuses reopened Monday Jan. 26 noon",
      "url": "https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/wx-cornell-ithaca-campus-opening/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "weather",
    "winter-storm",
    "closure",
    "cornell",
    "cornellalert"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-21",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-21",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}