University of Maryland closes Friday through Sunday, ahead of snowstorm

The University of Maryland campus — on a non-snowy day. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

The University of Maryland at College Park will shut down Friday through Sunday, school officials said, in anticipation of a snowstorm expected to wallop the Washington region this weekend.

The announcement, which U-Md. President Wallace D. Loh tweeted late Wednesday afternoon, will disrupt the wrap-up of a brief term of winter classes, which started Jan. 4 and ends Friday. Officials said faculty would make accommodations for students taking final exams. The spring semester is still expected to start as scheduled Monday.

The snowstorm is expected to arrive as some students are moving into dormitories for the spring term. Officials said students will still be able to move in on Friday, if needed, but they advised them not to move in on Saturday.

The U-Md. men’s basketball team plays Saturday, but they are away at Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. The women’s basketball team is scheduled to host Michigan State on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Xfinity Center. University spokeswoman Crystal Brown said that as of Wednesday evening the plan is for the game to be held as scheduled.