GW Winter Weather Alerts

The GW community can monitor weather advisories through GW Alerts, Campus Advisories and social media.

January 7, 2020

With winter weather upon us, it is important to know the George Washington University’s safety and security communication protocol.

Weather alerts will be sent to the community through the university emergency communications systems labeled “Awareness,” “Advisory” or “Alert.”

Delayed openings, early closings or openings with weather flex will be communicated with messages labeled Advisory. If there is a closing, the message will be labeled as an Alert.

When the campus operating status is designated as “open with weather flex,” employees who are directly impacted by inclement weather have the option to report to work on time, after their normally scheduled start time, leave before their scheduled departure time or follow their department’s normal call-in procedure without being required to use accrued paid annual time off. They should notify their supervisor and record the time in Kronos as University Closing Leave (UCL). Designated on-site employees, however, are required to work as scheduled.

Changes to the university’s operating status will be communicated through:

  • GW Alerts. To sign up for GW Alert text messages or to add cell phone or secondary email addresses, visit the GW Alert FAQs.
  • GW’s homepage and Campus Advisories
  • GW Information Line (202-994-5050), Virginia Science and Technology Campus Information Line (571-553-8333) and School of Medicine and Health Sciences Information Line (202-994-2196)
  • Social media via Twitter and Facebook

For preparedness tips and safety information, refer to Winter Weather Reminders and the GW Emergency Response Handbook.