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Winter Storm Abel, the first big storm of the winter, is expected to impact travel as students return to Quinnipiac from Thanksgiving break on Sunday, Dec.1. A winter storm watch is in effect for Northern New Haven County, Connecticut from 7 a.m. on Sunday through Tuesday morning.

According to the National Weather Service, heavy snow and mixed precipitation are expected to total 8 to 12 inches inland and 5 to 8 inches elsewhere. Ice could also accumulate to about a tenth of an inch or less. 

Parts of Northeast New Jersey, inland Southern Connecticut and Southeast New York are in the direct line of the storm.

The Quinnipiac University Office of Residential Life announced that all residence halls will be open for students to return to today (Saturday) to beat the snow when traveling. Q-Cards are activated for students to get into their halls and rooms, but dining services will not open until tomorrow (Sunday).

All surface parking lots will close on all campuses at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Staff, faculty, commuters and visitors remaining on the Mount Carmel campus may park in North Lot, but they must be available to move their vehicles if necessary. All vehicles on the York Hill and North Haven campuses must be moved to the parking garages. The Medical School entrance on the North Haven campus will be closed, but the Law School entrance will remain open.

Surface parking lots off campus will be closed at the Polling Institute, Westwood’s lot and Whitney Village. Employees working must be ready to move their vehicles if necessary.

Roadway parking is banned on Kimberly Avenue, New Road, Woodruff Street and Ives Street. Students living in Quinnipiac owned properties on those streets must move their vehicles to the York Hill parking garage.

Shuttle services will be operating on a regular schedule on Sunday. The North Haven Shopper shuttle is cancelled.

Updated 1:45 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2019. This article will be updated as new information becomes available.