Winter Weather Advisory

Inclement Weather Update from J.J. Davis on Tuesday 2:44 p.m., January 27, 2026:

The following message is for any student, faculty, or staff who reports to class or work on Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

Academic Division

The University's Academic Division will operate on a modified schedule for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, due to the inclement winter weather: Classes scheduled prior to 10:00 a.m. will not meet in person or on Grounds. Instructors should follow the guidance provided by their school and communicate their plans for online classes or asynchronous assignments to their students. Please be accommodating to those transitioning between online and in-person coursework. 

Please be aware that Charlottesville continues to experience extreme cold weather, which is forecast to last through the upcoming weekend. 

Cold weather injuries most often result from a slip or fall. Please use extra caution when walking on and around Grounds. Also, given the extremely low temperatures, cold-related injuries are likely to occur to exposed areas such as the hands, feet, face, and ears.

Prevention includes limiting cold exposure, taking warming breaks, covering exposed skin, wearing dry clothing, and avoiding alcohol. Suspected cold-related injuries require prompt removal from the cold and immediate medical attention.

Designated Academic Division employees should report to work as scheduled.

Non-designated Academic Division employees who report to Grounds should report at 10:00 a.m.. Non-designated Academic Division employees who work from home should follow their normal schedule. Any employee who is unable to work should contact their manager or supervisor so a reasonable accommodation plan can be made.

To report issues of snow or ice on Grounds, please utilize the Facilities Management – Customer Portal. 

Supervisors and faculty in the Academic division are asked to provide flexibility for staff members who have other responsibilities at home (such as childcare or eldercare) while continuing to meet the needs of the University.

Students and Academic Division faculty and staff should monitor the Academic Operations Status Board for changes to operations on Grounds.

For information on how to find your emergency event status, see How Can I Find My Designated Status.

UVA Health

Patient care services at UVA Medical Center, Ambulatory Operations, UPG, and UVA Community Health will provide its own message. ​​​​

UVA Health team members should monitor internal communications and the UVA Health Status Board for changes to patient care and business operations.

University officials will continue to monitor weather conditions and will provide updates about additional schedule adjustments or the resumption of normal operations. Please use extra precautions and allow extra time while traveling, as there may still be icy spots on roads and sidewalks.

FAQs

How do employees know their emergency reporting status?

All employees need to understand whether they are required to report in person if the University modifies on-Grounds operations. Some Academic Division staff may need to consult directly with their managers to understand their role.

  • Academic Division: For information on how to find emergency event designation, agency closing timekeeping instructions, etc., see the Weather or Emergency Event Status webpage.
  • UVA Health: Team members should refer to HR Policy 510 – Modified Medical Center Operations and discuss questions with their supervisor. UVA Health team members should maintain communication with their manager/supervisor regarding modified operations. Unless otherwise noted, team members are expected to follow standard reporting/operating schedules.

How does UVA make weather-related schedule changes?

University officials closely monitor developing weather and its expected impact on the University’s facilities and the accessibility of Grounds – focusing on parking lots, sidewalks, and streets, and bring a team together from across the University to discuss the impacts and to make recommendations regarding the University's operations. Life safety is our top priority.

How can the UVA community learn about schedule changes?

When the Academic Division modifies academic operations, the decision is communicated as early as possible through multiple channels: 

When UVA Health modifies its patient care and business operations, it utilizes the following channels to communicate changes in operations during inclement weather:

  • Recorded messages on phone “hotlines” (434-243-7669 and 434-924-7669)
  • UVA Health Status Board 
  • Direct communication from your supervisor 
  • Mass email
  • Local news outlets  

What if I cannot report to work due to weather?

Academic Division staff should contact their manager or supervisor if they are unable to report to the office as expected. Supervisors and faculty in the Academic Division are asked to be flexible in granting leave to employees who feel that it is not safe to travel or who have other responsibilities at home – such as childcare or eldercare – that might restrict their availability.

UVA Health team members should refer to HR Policy 510 – Modified Medical Center Operations.
 
Who do I contact for additional questions?

For questions about inclement weather planning and emergency operations, please contact: