Under a white blanket of falling flakes, State College residents prepared to weather another cold day as the threat of even greater snow accumulation lingered.

That threat quickly turned to reality by yesterday afternoon as winter weather hit the area with full force.

Car tires spun, snowblower engines buzzed, students sought refuge, children threw snowballs and merchants shoveled sidewalks as Mother Nature painted the town white.

Another blast of arctic air is expected to blow through Happy Valley today and tomorrow, said Jim Green, senior meteorologist for Accu-Weather, 619 W. College Ave. Green said although he is expecting only a few flurries today, many people should plan to shovel because heavy winds will cause the snow to blow and drift.

Lauren Gelb found herself unprepared yesterday to chip ice and shovel snow in front of The Gap, 206 W. College Ave., where she is a sales associate. "I don't have any boots," she said.

The onslaught of snow sent Ingrid Dreiss (senior-geography) to the slopes -- at least the sloped sidewalks in downtown State College. Sunday, Dreiss rented skis with her boyfriend and both used the equipment to venture to their classes and around town yesterday.

"It seemed like a good idea at first," Dreiss said, adding that the exhausting cross-country effort eventually caused her to perspire.

Paige Derr (senior-civil engineering) had mixed feelings about the snowfall.

"It hasn't been that bad," she said, shielding herself with an umbrella. "Sometimes I like it. Sometimes I hate it."

The flakes were not fun for everybody, however.

University Police Services and the State College Police Department reported several accidents caused by snowy roads. None resulted in serious injuries, police said.

The Office of Housing and Food Service Operations has remained busy throughout their quest to keep dorm areas safe.

"It's a tough order when you have as many people as we do," said Fred Fotis, director of housing and laundry services. "We do the best we can to negotiate with the weather."

The office will continue to clear doorways, monitor heat problems and keep linoleum floors dry as the snow falls, Fotis said.

The Penn State Bookstore on Campus closed early yesterday because of the snowfall.

The Centre Area Transportation Authority and University Fleet Operations said all Centre Line and Loop buses were running fine yesterday, but were behind schedule.

USAir and United Airlines canceled at least six flights from University Park Airport yesterday because of poor visibility. Other flights experienced delays.

Several University departments reported no cancelled classes, despite the inclement weather.

Collegian Staff Writer Rebecca Stumpf contributed to this report.