Contact: Sid Salter
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University’s Starkville and Meridian campuses will continue normal operations Thursday [February 17] with scheduled classes and activities. The university will continue to monitor the approaching weather system and MSU’s operating status could change later today.
State Climatologist Michael Brown, a longtime professor in the MSU Department of Geosciences, said that current meteorological models indicate that a weather system with strong gusty winds and possible heavy rains will move across most of central and northern areas of the state with 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. being the critical time period for possible adverse weather conditions.
“This is a fluid situation and MSU meteorologists will be monitoring the weather through the early evening,” said Brown.
“Employees should exercise caution and good judgment in making travel decisions involving their families and to ensure personal safety, but at present the expectation is that classes will continue as scheduled,” said Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw. “The university will issue an operational status update if weather conditions change.”
University officials said planned athletic events, conferences and meetings would continue as scheduled. The Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit bus system may experience delays or interruptions later today as the weather system clears the area but will resume thereafter.
Those on campus should follow the building or residence hall safety instructions specific to their location. Starkville campus residence halls and buildings remain open.
MSU encourages all students, faculty and staff to monitor the media for changing weather information as well as www.msstate.edu and www.meridian.msstate.edu and official university social media for updates. The university’s emergency website www.emergency.msstate.edu includes emergency guidelines, as well as preparedness tips, information about Maroon Alerts, and more.
Media inquiries should be directed to Sid Salter, MSU Chief Communications Officer, at 601-507-8004 or ss51@msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.