Due to the accumulation of ice on trees and power lines the University of Oregon has issued a UO Alert that encourages students to stay inside and avoid traveling if at all possible. The ice can increase the weight on branches by 30 times and with a half inch accumulation on power lines it can add an additional 500 pounds of extra weight, according to the alert.

“We encourage students to avoid the winter conditions it at all possible, stay indoors and avoid outside travel,” UO Senior Director of Communications Julie Brown said. “If students do need to travel we encourage them to do so on foot, we advise students to avoid walking under trees and stay away from buildings due to falling ice. The most important thing is we want students to stay safe.”

Students are encouraged to take precautions if they do need to travel but the most important thing is for students to avoid walking around in these weather conditions.