University of North Texas 
Be Mean Green Ready for severe weather!
Severe weather can happen any time in North Texas—especially in the spring. The best way to stay safe is to be ready before it happens and act quickly when it does.
Follow these steps to increase your weather readiness:
All UNT community members are automatically enrolled in the emergency messaging system for campus, Eagle Alert, but can choose the best emails or telephone numbers for contact information.
UNT System staff are automatically signed up to receive Eagle Alerts based on their office location and can choose to receive alerts from other UNT System locations if needed.
Keep your Eagle Alert information up to date - find out how on this page.
When severe weather is in the forecast, keep an eye on the weather by following:
- National Weather Service
- UNT @MeanGreenReady on Instagram, Facebook, or X.
- Bookmark this page which includes UNT's weather dashboard with current conditions on campus.
Identify the nearest shelter areas.
Shelter areas are designated for every building on campus and can be viewed on the UNT Emergency Floor Plans or via the UNT Mean Green Ready App.
A weather watch means that conditions are favorable for a particular type of weather, and usually occur over a wide area (such as by county).
A warning means that the weather event is underway and is narrower, following the storm's path.
Here are some examples of watches and warnings for severe thunderstorms and tornados, along with what you should do in each case.
🌩 Severe Thunderstorms
| Alert | What It Means | What You Should Do |
| Watch | Storms possible | ✅ Stay alert and be ready to act |
| Warning | Storm occurring or imminent |
🚨 Go indoors immediately ✅ Stay away from windows |
🌪 Tornado
| Alert | What It Means | What You Should Do |
| Watch | Tornado possible |
✅ Identify shelter location ✅ Be ready to act |
| Warning | Tornado occurring or imminent |
🚨 Go to lowest level 🚨 Move to interior room 🚨 Cover head/neck |
Specific Hazards and What You Can Do:
Lightning is a sudden electrical discharge that can strike far from a storm and cause serious injury, death, or fires.
What to do
✅ Go indoors immediately (buildings or hard-top vehicles)
✅ Avoid windows, plumbing, and electronics
✅ Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside
Flash flooding is rapidly rising water that can sweep away people and vehicles within minutes, often with little warning.
What to do
✅ Move to higher ground right away
✅ Never walk or drive through floodwater
✅ Follow road closures and campus alerts
Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown
Extreme cold can quickly lower body temperature, leading to hypothermia or frostbite—even in a short time outdoors.
What to do
✅ Limit time outdoors
✅ Dress in layers (hat, gloves, waterproof shoes)
✅ Watch for ice on sidewalks and stairs
Get help if needed: Know where warming locations are on campus, and follow campus updates
For more information visit our Extreme Cold Preparedness page!
Extreme heat can overwhelm the body’s cooling system, causing heat exhaustion or life-threatening heat stroke.
What to do
✅ Hydrate! Drink water frequently (don’t wait until thirsty)
✅ Take breaks in shade or air conditioning
✅ Limit activity during peak heat (midday–evening)
Act fast: Dizziness, nausea, confusion are signs of heat illness - you should seek help immediately if yourself or others experience these symptoms.