Nicholls State University announced campus closure on Monday, Jan. 26, amid extreme winter weather concerns.

Jerad David, Nicholls’ director of communications and legislative affairs, sent a series of email updates regarding the campus shutdown to current students, faculty, and staff.

“Due to the impending winter weather and uncertainty of conditions, Nicholls will close on Monday, Jan. 26, and all classes and scheduled campus activities are cancelled. The financial aid and class registration process has been pushed back to noon on Tuesday, Jan. 27,” he stated.

According to David, those living on campus may remain in their residences. Special dining hours have been implemented to accommodate the weather.

All foodservice locations will close at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25. On Monday, Jan. 26, the Galliano Dining Hall will serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Normal business hours across all dining locations will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The National Weather Service has forecasted that southeastern Louisiana, including Lafourche Parish, will experience extreme cold conditions beginning Sunday, Jan. 25.

On Monday, Jan. 26, a hard freeze is likely. Conditions south of Interstate 10 will likely reach the mid-20 to 30 degrees, with the wind chill in Lafourche potentially reaching 8 degrees Fahrenheit. Icy roads are possible.

While freezing temperatures are unfamiliar to southern Louisiana, Baton Rouge’s Red Stick Ready program encourages residents to protect the “four P’s” during extreme winter weather: people, pets, pipes, and plants.

“Check on your neighbors. Bring pets to a warm place. Bring sensitive plants indoors. Run faucets and wrap exposed pipes.”

The program also encourages Louisianians to dress in appropriate winterwear, to keep adequate food and water available, and to shut off all main water supplies if planning to evacuate.

For more updates, visit https://www.weather.gov/lix/.