Snow creates a frigid Friday

February 22, 2008 Close to 800 schools closed as the snowflakes fell in the morning. However, for Philadelphia public and archdiocesan students they were told school was open. Hours later at noon, though, the storm caused the schools to close early and the students were sent home.

Roads all around the area were affected by the wintry mix.

In South Whitehall Township, more snow fell than in the Philadelphia area. The weather made the roads slippery in the morning, as drivers cautiously made their early commutes.

Residents in Trenton, New Jersey, were hit as well from Old Man Winter. The city received more than four inches of snow, as the white crystalline water ice covered the roadways.

Streets, turnpikes, and expressways were not the only transportation routes to be altered by the storm; there were major delays at the Philadelphia International Airport. At one point during the day, half of the flights were being cancelled.

More specifically, 44% of the flights were cancelled by 2:00 p.m.. In preparation for this winter storm, some airlines began cancelling flights on Thursday.

Just like drivers brushed off their cars and PennDOT salted the roads, the airport deiced planes on the runways and plowed the runways themselves. Workers began this arduous task at midnight.

While passengers waited and waited in the airport, kids saw the fun in the day. In Washington Township, New Jersey, they embraced their day off from school by sledding and just playing in the snow.

For information on flights coming in and out of Philadelphia, check ahead by calling 1-800-PHL-GATE.