Elon prepares for severe weather ahead of Tropical Storm Nicole

The storms will bring the possibility for downed trees and power lines, resulting in scattered power outages, and a slight risk for severe storms and scattered tornadoes Friday evening.

Updated 8:15 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11. 


The National Weather Service in Raleigh is forecasting the potential for severe weather across much of North Carolina through Friday evening, Nov. 11, as Tropical Storm Nicole moves northward.

On Friday morning, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for most counties in central North Carolina including Alamance County, where Elon University is located. A tornado watch means a tornado is possible. The watch is in effect until 3 p.m. Friday.

With Nicole comes the possibility of strong to severe storms including several inches of rain, strong wind gusts and the possibility of tornadoes. The storms will bring the possibility for downed trees and power lines, resulting in scattered power outages and a slight risk for severe storms and scattered tornadoes Friday evening.

At this time, there are no planned changes to Elon University’s operations. Elon leadership will continue to monitor weather conditions and will send additional communications if the threat of severe weather will affect campus operations. Students, faculty and staff should make their best decisions as to personal safety during a weather event, and students should consult directly with their faculty members if they miss class due to weather.

In addition to monitoring weather forecasts, we recommend taking the following steps:

  • Be sure your current cell phone number is in your OnTrack profile for use in the E-Alert emergency notification system.
  • Review emergency shelter locations for campus buildings you use most frequently. Locations for seeking shelter immediately can be found online here. These locations are important, particularly in the case of an imminent weather threat, such as a tornado warning.
  • Review emergency posters located near stairwells and exits in each building.
  • If you live off-campus, be sure you communicate with your roommates and housemates so everyone knows the best location to take shelter, such as a basement or interior room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). Remember to avoid windows.
  • Program the number for Campus Safety and Police (336-278-5555) into your phone as a resource, and of course for immediate medical emergencies, dial 9-1-1.

E-Alert is the fastest method the university will use to communicate in the event of severe weather. Other ways the university may notify the campus of severe weather could include outdoor sirens on the main campus (for imminent threats, such as a tornado warning), desktop computer screen alerts, campus emails, banners across the top of all elon.edu webpages, Today at Elon and university social media accounts.