There’s snow place quite like JMU

For a look back at snow days on campus over the years, download the Madison app. 

If you haven’t seen the JMU campus up close and personal during the depths of winter, you still have time.

The first winter storm of 2026 dropped several inches of snow and a thick top layer of ice on the region. Add to that a long stretch of cold that has plunged the Shenandoah Valley into single-digit temperatures, and it’s likely the scene will stick around for awhile.

The severe storm was part of a massive weather event that pummeled more than 20 states from New Mexico to New England and affected about two-thirds of the U.S. population. The snow and ice forced JMU to close on Jan. 26 and 27, while Facilities Management crews labored to clear campus roads, sidewalks and parking lots.

But while the weather sparked cancellations and altered work schedules, it also offered stunning views of the village Dukes call home.