There's lots of snow coming. Know what that means? (UPDATED)
UPDATE (4:51 a.m.)
Forget the Winter Storm Warning. The National Weather Service just issued a BLIZZARD WARNING until midnight tonight, saying that the storm will "intensify explosively" today with total snow accumulation between 12 and 22 inches.
If the powers-that-be are awake right now, please read what the NWS is saying and cancel classes (emphasis ours)!
NEAR-BLIZZARD OR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE RARE FOR OUR AREA... SO IT IS LIKELY THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT REALIZE THE PERIL THAT EXISTS IN VENTURING OUT IN SUCH STORMS. LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE... AND DRIVING WILL BE HAZARDOUS AT BEST DURING THIS WINTER STORM TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT TRAVEL BE CURTAILED DUE TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS... AND ONLY DRIVE IF IT IS TRULY AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS... MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED... STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
"Life-threatening"? President Tilghman, we don't want to die! Don't let us die! Die, die, die!
UPDATE (12:51 a.m.)
So it looks like the chances of a snow day tomorrow are slimming rapidly. While New Jersey Governor Christie declared a state of emergency in the Southern counties of the state, nothing has been said about Mercer regarding that same announcement.
That said, a lot of classes have been canceled (check your inbox to see if you're one of the lucky ones), but no school-wide announcement has been made through any channels.
And the way the weather's looking (it stopped snowing a while ago), it doesn't look like any more snow is going to accumulate. Estimates of snowfall are shrinking, too. Weather.com says,
HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN TWO BURSTS ACROSS THE REGION. THE FIRST IS UNDERWAY TONIGHT WITH 3 TO 7 INCHES LIKELY TO ACCUMULATE BY THE MORNING COMMUTE WEDNESDAY. THE SECOND SHOT WILL BE AN EVEN MORE INTENSE BURST OF HEAVY SNOW WITH THE UPPER AIR DISTURBANCE ITSELF THAT SHOULD OCCUR IN MOST OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA... MARYLAND... AND DELAWARE DURING WEDNESDAY MORNING AND NEW JERSEY AND NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA DURING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL END BY MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
So, Thursday snow day? Maybe?
UPDATE (12:39 a.m.)Don't give up hope yet, Princeton. The state's climatologist, David Robison, tells the Star-Ledger that while only three to eighth inches are projected to fall by tomorrow morning, there will be a "more intense session" in the afternoon. And he gives us the strongest argument for a snow day yet:
“It would behoove one to think twice before venturing out (Wednesday) out of fear of not getting back home,” he said. “This looks to be the most significant statewide event of the season.”
AW
UPDATE (10:30 p.m.)Alright, we don't want to rain on any parades that have kicked off since we posted this but... It now looks like the chances of a snow day are slimming.University emails to faculty are now suggesting the weather won't be bad enough to call classes off. Sorry guys!Of course, this is a developing story, so we'll keep you updated with anymore news we managed to pick up...Stay tuned to Snow Day? 2010.ORIGINAL POST:We have it on good information (well, that's open to interpretation) that tomorrow is going to be...Get ready for it...A SNOW DAY.Yes, ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in seven years, Princeton will be closed due to heavy precipitation.*Get your sleds out. Don your mittens. Warm up some spiked cider. It's time to play.Or sleep, whatever.*Okay, technically we won't be absolutely sure until around 4 A.M., but let's all cross our fingers. And don't blame us if we turn out wrong - we're not controlling the weather machine!(image source: blogs.princeton.edu/aspire)