January 2026 – winter weather warning

Met Office yellow and amber warnings for snow are in place across Leeds and Yorkshire from Thursday 8 January until Friday 9 January. 

Storm Goretti is likely to bring heavy snow leading to disruption and difficult travelling conditions later Thursday and into Friday

In the event of overnight snowfall, campus is expected to remain open. If you are required to work on campus, you should make every reasonable effort to travel to work, without putting your personal safety or the safety of others at risk.

Before attempting to travel to work, you should use your own judgement to assess whether it is safe and reasonable to do so.

You should take into account weather conditions and forecasts, official weather/travel advice and health and safety issues. Everyone will be affected differently at this time, and therefore, your decision should be based on your individual circumstances.

If you do travel to work, make sure you’re wrapped up warm and take extra care.

If you are unable to get safely to work or arrive on time, where practicable and safe to do so, you should advise your line manager or report to your area by the usual means before your normal start time.

It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the University ‘Procedure for working arrangements during adverse weather and/or travel disruption’. The document sets out the University approach to working arrangements.

If normal carer arrangements are disrupted, or schools/nurseries are closed without warning, or at short notice, the University Policy on leave for carers/time off for domestic incidents may be useful to you.

If you have a query regarding any of the above, the procedure document and/or require guidance and support, please speak to your manager and/or local HR.

Clearing snow and ice on campus 

The University’s Grounds & Gardens team, plus external contractors where necessary, keep the campus gritted and snow cleared, and are on standby ahead of any overnight snowfall. They focus on areas that affect the most people first and which are critical for access.

They understand that there may be problems that affect people in areas and buildings not on the core routes and will do their best to deal with these. They ask for your patience and understanding, particularly in periods of very disruptive weather.

Please email the Facilities Management Service Desk on [email protected] or phone them on 0113 343 5555 to report any issues.

Information and updates

Updates from our Estates team will appear regularly in the Estates website news section, the Facilities Directorate Staff Intranet news area and on the Disruptions page.