Tips on surviving State College spring weather from Penn State students
STATE COLLEGE, P.a. — A Penn State student was making her way to class when a gust of wind roared past, bringing a flurry of snowflakes straight into her face.
It was one of State College’s infamous spring snowstorms, and she was woefully unprepared.
As the snow picked up, the student ran for safety, covering her hair with her backpack as she fought the winds and their miniature icy firing squad.
Her hair was blown in every direction, virtually blinding her as she scurried to hide under the nearest awning. As she placed the backpack on the ground her hands made their way to her hair, shaking out the snowflakes and flattening down the messy strands.
“Crap,” she said raking her hands through her long blonde tresses. “It took me an hour to do this.”
As students living in State College, one of the most overlooked plights of college students is a lack of preparation for the elements.
The weather in State College is infamous for its sporadic nature, from rainy days to the occasional three-inch snowstorm, you never know when mother nature is going to wreak havoc.
Here are a few tips from some Penn Staters that are used to protecting themselves from the elements.
Checking the Apps
When junior in history, Eva Reichle, and freshman in advertising, Christina Magrini, were preparing for formal, the last thing on their mind was the weather.
Magrini and Reichle are a part of Mock Trial and were headed to 3 Dots Downtown for their spring formal.
With stylish updos, makeup that took an hour to do, and dresses that they had picked out weeks in advance, these girls were anxiously waiting to dance the night away, but a surprise rainstorm tore these plans apart.
“It was like it came out of nowhere,” said Reichle. “We checked the weather app the night before and it said slightly cloudy but no rain, but by the time we were walking to our friend’s house, we started to feel droplets.”
Reichle explained that when they left for formal, there was a slight glare and the clouds were grey, but not enough to get them worried.
“We should have checked the app before we left,” Reichle said, with Magrini nodding in agreement. “Even though the clouds were grey we thought it was just normal State College overcast.”
Magrini and Reichle both agreed that if they would have checked the weather app that day, it could have saved their hair and dresses from a good old-fashioned State College drenching.
“It was warm that day, so we didn’t even wear coats,” Magrini said. “By the time we got to our friend’s house, we were soaked.”
Both students agreed that in the future, they will be keeping a close eye on the weather app for all formal events.
Packing Protection
State College averages about 41.2 inches of rain and 45 inches of snow a year according to U.S. Climate Data, and without proper protection from the elements, it’s easy to get stuck while walking from class to class.
For Claire Nicollelo, a senior in English, in is a constant battle when getting to class and she frequently gets caught in a battle of the elements in her daily route.
“I get caught in the rain all the time around here,” Nicollelo said. “The weather in State College is always changing its mind and I am terrible at preparing for it so a lot of the time I end up drenched in class.”
Nicollelo explained that much of her transportation to and from class is done by walking, and when it rains, running.
Her lack of preparation for State College weather is not uncommon among Penn Staters, something that can be observed every rainfall in the traditional rainy-day dash where countless students without raincoats or umbrellas scurry from building to building to avoid getting wet.
Katherine Patterson, a junior majoring in English, sees this happen way too often.
“It’s kind of funny, if there’s one thing to expect when it’s raining in State College, it’s kids running or using their backpack as protection from the rain,” Patterson said. “I sit in the HUB between classes and people watching on a rainy day is the best.”
Patterson went on to say that during her freshman year there was a massive storm that stranded her at a bus stop for hours and left her soaking wet, nursing the beginnings of a cold.
Patterson also explained that she always keeps an umbrella in her backpack so she can avoid dealing with this ever again.
“I am a firm believer in being prepared for anything, and at Penn State that mostly means rain,” Patterson said. “I always have an umbrella in my backpack, and it’s saved my back on many occasions.”
Prioritize the feet
Of all the things to keep in mind when living in a rainy area, foot care is one of the most necessary but overlooked aspects.
For Sophie Delia, a junior in computer science, foot care is crucial to staying happy and healthy at University Park.
“When I was a freshman I wore Converse to class every day, they’re really comfortable shoes but very thin,” Delia said. “One day I wore them when it was pouring and my feet were completely soaked, I had to walk around in wet shoes and socks all day and it was the worst.”
Ever since her harrowing experience bracing the watery elements, Delia makes sure to keep an extra pair of socks in her backpack, a trick she shares with everyone to try and prevent history from repeating itself.
Avery Belcher, a senior in photography, is another huge proponent of foot care in the rainy months.
As a photographer, Belcher is often asked to take senior pictures for friends and classmates, something that often includes trekking across campus to find the best lighting and scenery.
According to Belcher, this often includes standing in mud or dealing with the elements to get the perfect shot.
“I often find myself stuck in the rain when taking pictures for seniors because even when you prepare for the elements State College weather usually has a trick up its sleeve,” Belcher said. “I’ve learned from trial and error that proper equipment to protect my camera and waterproof shoes are a must-have.”
Belcher explained that often when he travels around University Park for student pictures he is kneeling in the grass at Old Main or standing in a dirt patch outside the lion shrine to get the lighting right.
Wearing rain boots is Belcher’s key to success in the more precipitous months.
“I always wear my rainboots when I take pictures outside,” Belcher said. “When you ruin enough shoes in the mud eventually you eventually a few tips and tricks to save your feet in the future.”
