The Barometer Online

Issue date: 1/11/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Andrew Burton As snow flurries fell on Corvallis off and on Wednesday, installation of turf on the baseball field continued. Occasional snow showers fell throughout the day, but there was little accumulation. Thursday and Friday will likely see a shift to colder temperatures.

Anticipating colder than normal weather today, university officials on Wednesday warned students, faculty and staff to dress warm, conserve energy and take steps to prepare for any potential problems.

OSU spokesman Todd Simmons said the university's natural gas provider warned of a gas curtailment, which limits the amount of natural gas available. If OSU goes over the limit, a fine will be issued. The curtailment is issued because the company does not expect to be able to meet all of the demand due to increased use.

The curtailment will force the university to prioritize locations on campus for heating. Simmons said residence halls and dining centers will be at the top of the list, followed by buildings with sensitive research projects and animals that cannot be moved.

Administration buildings will be set to a range between 55 and 63 degrees, lower than normal. Kerr, for example, will be set at 55 degrees.

"That is as cold as you can take it without damage to equipment, servers, computers and data lines," Simmons said.

The gas curtailment was expected to last from 7 a.m. today to 7 a.m. Friday, Simmons said.

"OSU will be doing as much as possible to keep buildings heated," he said.

Facilities employees have been evaluating buildings in the past few days in anticipation of the coming weather. Workers are assessing pipes and plumbing to make efforts to prevent damage to any buildings. In past years, pipes have frozen, causing flooding in some buildings.

Tiffani Brown, of the National Weather Service's Portland office, said Wednesday's snow showers were caused by a moist front that was followed by a cold air mass.

Corvallis, like must of Western Oregon, was under a snow advisory through much of Wednesday. It expired at 6 p.m.

Brown said to expect colder temperatures today and Friday. She said showers were not likely.

Simmons advised those coming to campus today to wear layers and to be prepared for the cold.

Brown also had advice for drivers.

"Just make sure to take extra time if you plan on driving," Brown said. "Especially [Thursday], anything that melts will freeze up. Also give extra space when driving."

The National Weather Service forecasts that by the weekend, temperatures will start to moderate into the mid-40s.

Simmons said that in the case of a power outage, which has occurred several times in previous storms, OSU will do everything it can to restore power and heat as soon as possible.

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