UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Another winter storm is on its way, with the National Weather Service forecasting snow and sleet accumulations that vary from 1-3 inches in the Philadelphia area to more than a foot of snow in the northeast corner of the state. Much of Pennsylvania will be in the 3-6 inch or 6-12 inch range. Total accumulation will depend upon how quickly the storm changes from snow to sleet. Areas further north likely will see more snow, and areas to the south will have more sleet.
The forecast for University Park, which falls in the uncertain area between snow and a wintry mix, is for between 4 and 8 inches of accumulation.
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.
The daily shuttle service that runs between University Park and the College of Medicine in Hershey has been canceled for Wednesday. The Campus Shuttle, Paratransit Shuttle and all CATA transit lines are expected to operate at full service on Wednesday. Any changes to these services will be posted on the Transportation Services website and social media outlets. The Hershey Shuttle is expected to resume service on Thursday (Feb. 6).
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-weather-faq online.