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ESF WEATHER ALERT: Tornado Watch; Please leave campus now
Please be aware that the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Tornado Watch to parts of Onondaga County until 9 p.m. today.
A tornado watch means that severe weather could happen.
We have been in close contact with Syracuse University officials and SU's weather consultant, who estimates that storms related to the tornado watch could possibly hit around 3:15 p.m. today.
ESF encourages its community members to prioritize safety and take proper precautions. Faculty, staff, and commuting students are encouraged to leave campus now and should coordinate with their supervisors and faculty if they have any concerns. Non-essential employees must charge appropriate leave accruals if they cannot work remotely and supervisors are encouraged to be flexible when considering time and attendance leave requests.
ESF is closely monitoring the conditions and will send further information if necessary.
The NWS has three key tornado alerts:
- Watch | Be prepared; tornados are possible in or near the area.
- Warning | Take action; a tornado has been sighted or indicated in the area by weather radar.
- Emergency | Shelter immediately; a violent tornado has touched down in the area.
If the alert is elevated to Warning, the NWS website advises the following measures:
- At Your House: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don't forget pets if time allows.
- At Your Workplace: Proceed to the building's basement or interior room quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as auditoriums.
- Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent. If you have time, get to a safe building.
- In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
In the meantime, you can check the National Weather Service and local news for ongoing weather updates.
ESF will continue to monitor weather conditions in consultation with SU and share additional updates. In the event of an update necessary, information will be announced with the notice ESF WEATHER ALERT through the following channels:
- Campus email
- Campus phone message system
- On social media: Facebook, Instagram
- On esf.edu and esf.edu/communications/news