The university will issue another update Monday afternoon.
Courtesy of the National Hurricane Center.
By James Bennett III
Although Hurricane Dorian has strengthened to a Category 5 storm, the Gulf Coast is no longer in the cone of uncertainty, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The University of South Florida issued a news release Sunday afternoon informing students that all campuses will remain closed and classes will remain canceled through “at least” Tuesday, Sept. 3.
“Based on the latest information, the National Weather Service expects that impacts from Hurricane Dorian will be minimal across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee Counties,” the release said. “The situation could change significantly, however, if the projected track of the storm shifts to the west.”
USF Health will remain closed through Tuesday, and there are no updates as to whether it will reopen on Wednesday. Residence halls at USF Tampa and USF St. Petersburg remain open.
Students, faculty, staff, parents and community members can check the status of university operations by calling (866) 601-6905. The call center will be active at the following times:
- Until 8 p.m. on Sunday
- From 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday
- From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, the NHC predicts Dorian will “move dangerously close to the Florida east coast” late Monday through Tuesday night.
The NHC update said that Dorian’s maximum sustained winds are near 185 mph with gusts exceeding 220 mph. The storm is moving west at a speed of 5 mph.
The university will release another update on Monday afternoon, when officials have a better idea of where the storm is headed.
“The University of South Florida System continues to closely monitor Hurricane Dorian and any potential impacts to our region,” the release said. “As we track the storm, the safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority.”
The university’s 2019 hurricane guide can be found here.
