Heavy snowfall and blistering winds descended on Philadelphia this weekend, turning Penn into a veritable winter wonderland.
The Philadelphia International Airport saw 12.5 inches of snow by Sunday, and the rest of the city saw similar amounts of snowfall. However, the weather is expected to improve over the next week.
"There are no significant snow systems to speak of," Accuweather meteorologist Carl Erickson said. "Temperatures should be moderating."
While the storm had been forecast with relative accuracy, it still provided city officials with a major test.
The city declared a snow emergency had been around noon on Saturday.
"It's the type of thing that only happens every few years," a city spokesman. "We had very little snow last winter."
The city mobilized between 350 to 400 pieces of snow-moving equipment, and a court order had been issued to allow city workers to bring unwilling homeless people to shelters due to the life-threatening weather.
At Penn, though, many students found the conditions more fun than dangerous.
"I went out to play soccer," College freshman Daniel Castro said. "It's pretty hard, though, but it was fun."
While Castro did not have any difficulties getting around, he did express concern for any motorists who might have been trying to drive during the storm.
"The streets weren't cleared up," Castro said. "So that could have been a problem for the cars."
College freshman Justine Chilvers agreed that many students enjoyed the snow.
"I think a lot of people had fun," Chilvers said.
Chilvers, though, did not share their excitement.
"I stayed in. I don't like snow," Chilvers said. "I'm from Boston, so I'm used to it."
Eduardo Baltodano, a College freshman from Nicaragua, expressed similar sentiments.
"It was horrible," Baltodano said.
Negative feelings would seem to be in the minority, however, as groups of students returned to their dorms or houses soaking and smiling after taking advantage of the seasons' largest snowfall yet.
Wild weather 12.5": Snow recorded as of Sunday at Philadelphia International Airport 800: Passengers stranded at the airport as approximately half of all scheduled flights were canceled
