UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – March is coming in like a lion with a storm that has potential to impact more than 100 million people from the Northern Rockies to the east coast over the next few days. According to AccuWeather, there is the potential for more than 6 inches of snow to fall along a 1,300-mile stretch from Topeka, Kan., to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City and up into New England. Some locations along this swath could end up with a foot of snow or more.
The AccuWeather forecast for University Park is for 8 to 16 inches starting 4 p.m. Sunday and continuing until 6 p.m. Monday. With the potential for delays or cancellations on campus, individuals can stay informed by using Penn State's PSUTXT emergency messaging system, Twitter feed and News website. Local television and radio stations also will inform the public.
For information on inclement weather, the University Park community should check WPSU-FM and Penn State News -- the official sources for weather-related delay or cancellation advisories at that campus. In addition, advisories will be sent directly to cellphones, email and Twitter via PSUTXT.
WPSU, which airs 24-hour programming, can be heard at 91.5 FM in State College, Bellefonte, Lock Haven and surrounding areas, and 90.1 FM in northern Pennsylvania counties. The station also is at http://wpsu.org and a complete list of station frequencies can be found at http://wpsu.org/about/coverage. Closings are listed at http://wpsu.org/closings.
When notified, WPSU will begin its live broadcasting earlier than the usual start time of 5 a.m., and will interrupt regularly scheduled programming to give periodic updates throughout the day or night.
In addition to WPSU, information also will be promptly and prominently issued online at Penn State News -- http://news.psu.edu -- assuming that power and Internet connectivity are not adversely affected by the weather.
Although classes may be delayed or canceled, the University Park campus never really closes. There are 14,000 students on campus that require meals and warm lodging, and there are critical research projects that require constant attention, as well as livestock that must be fed, watered and sheltered. Because of this, it is critical that Penn State effectively maintain services that affect safety and health when snow blankets the area. University Police and other emergency services remain operational around the clock regardless of the weather, as do guest services at both the Nittany Lion Inn and The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.
All employees are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety. Faculty, staff and students should use their own best judgment when considering traveling to campus or the need to leave early during times of inclement weather. Faculty and staff also should review Handling Weather Day Absences (Human Resources Guideline 10) at http://guru.psu.edu/policies/OHR/hrg10.html for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled.
Answers to frequently asked questions about University Park weather events, visit http://news.psu.edu/story/181480/2008/11/24/penn-state-university-park-w... online.