Campus Alert Archive
Clemson

First Snow Day in Three Years: Clemson Shuts Down at Noon as Winter Storm Brings Ice to the Upstate

SCwinter stormadvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

Clemson University closed its main campus at noon on Friday, January 10, 2024 as a winter storm brought snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the South Carolina Upstate region. The entire Upstate was under a Winter Storm Warning, with forecasts calling for 1-2 inches of snow and up to 0.25 inches of ice accumulation. Morning classes shifted to remote learning, and all afternoon classes and campus events were canceled. It was Clemson's first snow day since 2022.

Alerts
3
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Clemson University
Public R1 · SC
~28,000 studentsCU Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction475 chars
CU Alert: The University is monitoring weather conditions. Weather forecasts indicate potential for snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice accumulation for the main campus and Upstate locations. Main campus and Upstate locations are forecast to receive 1-2 inches of snow with the potential for up to 0.25 inches of ice accumulation. Make preparations now. On-street parking on campus will not be permitted on Friday, Jan. 10 and Saturday, Jan. 11 to aid in snow and ice removal.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from official Clemson University announcements published January 9, 2024
The advance notice allowed students and staff to prepare before the storm arrived
On-street parking restrictions were implemented to facilitate snow and ice removal
UPDATEEmail+15 h
Approximate reconstruction364 chars
CU Alert: University main campus will close at noon today, Friday, Jan. 10. Classes scheduled to begin before noon should move to remote learning, homework exercises, or alternate schedules. All classes after noon are canceled. All events scheduled to take place on main campus are canceled until noon Saturday, Jan. 11. Upstate locations follow the same schedule.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from the official Clemson News article titled 'University to close at noon Friday'
Faculty had the flexibility to choose between remote learning, homework assignments, or alternate schedules for morning classes
Snow began falling at approximately 10 AM on Friday
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction249 chars
CU Alert: Winter weather conditions have improved. Campus events may resume as of noon today, Saturday, Jan. 11. Normal university operations resume Monday, Jan. 13. Continue to use caution on roadways and walkways as refreezing may occur overnight.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from the closure timeline established in the original announcement
Clemson received about 0.15 inches from the storm, less than the forecasted 1-2 inches
Context

Background

On January 10, 2024, a winter storm swept through the South Carolina Upstate, bringing Clemson University its first snow day since 2022. The university had been monitoring the approaching storm and issued advance warnings the day before, giving students and staff time to prepare. The closure announcement shifted morning classes to remote learning and canceled all afternoon activities. While the actual accumulation of 0.15 inches was less severe than the forecasted 1-2 inches of snow and 0.25 inches of ice, the decision to close was consistent with the university's cautious approach to winter weather in a region where ice storms can be particularly dangerous. The city of Clemson issued a Winter Storm Fern advisory, coordinating with the university on road treatment and parking restrictions. Students made the most of the rare snow, sledding down Bowman Field and the Dikes near Lake Hartwell using curtains, truck beds, and mattresses.
Analysis

Key Findings

Clemson closed at noon on January 10, with morning classes moved to remote instruction
The storm was Clemson's first snow day since 2022, a relatively rare event for South Carolina
Actual snowfall of 0.15 inches was well below the forecasted 1-2 inches, validating the precautionary approach
On-street parking was banned for two days to facilitate snow and ice removal
Outcome
No injuries reported. Campus received approximately 0.15 inches of precipitation from the storm. On-street parking was prohibited on January 10-11 to aid snow and ice removal. Students celebrated with sledding on Bowman Field.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    University to close at noon Friday - Clemson News
    news.clemson.edu
  2. Official
    University monitoring weather conditions - Clemson News
    news.clemson.edu
  3. Student Paper
    Clemson sees snow for the first time in 3 years - The Tiger
    thetigercu.com
  4. Source
    Winter Storm Fern - City of Clemson
    clemsoncity.org
Tags
winter-stormicesnowcampus-closureremote-learningsouth-carolinaprecautionary-closure
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion