The University cancelled all Friday classes due to light snow and freezing rain that fell late Thursday night and early Friday morning.
Ernie Ballard, University director of Media Relations, said that LSU President F. King Alexander, along with the LSU Emergency Operations Center, made the decision just before 5 a.m. Friday after seeing road closures and traffic advisories declared near campus.
Ballard said University administration monitored the weather through Thursday night and into Friday morning before making a decision.
Shawn O’Neil, National Weather Service meteorologist, said the Baton Rouge area received between one half and one inch of snow Thursday night and Friday morning.
Though classes are cancelled, some University services will remain open and available to students Friday.
Certain LSU Dining facilities in the Student Union will be in operation Friday with limited hours, and the 5 and 459 dining halls will remain open until 7 p.m.
The LSU UREC will be open, though scheduled programs have been cancelled. A UREC spokesperson said the bridges leading to the UREC on S. Campus Dr. and W. Lakeshore Dr. have been closed.
Though more snowfall is unlikely, O’Neil said the University will likely receive some “winter precipitation,” including sleet or freezing rain, sometime Friday. He said temperatures will likely not rise above freezing until Friday morning.
Ballard said University administration will continue to monitor the weather over the weekend, but based on current forecasts, another cancellation Monday is unlikely.
A winter weather advisory for East Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Friday, O’Neil said.
Ballard said changes have been made to the academic calendar as a result of the snow day. The deadlines for dropping a class without a grade of “W” and for adding classes have each been pushed back one business day, he said.
Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon for Louisiana as a result of the weather conditions, signing an emergency order that would allow for the uninterrupted delivery of propane and heating fuels.