Call it rare all you want, but the university has declared a near-snow day for the third weather-related cancellation time in as many school years.

Due to dangerous weather, activities and classes are canceled beginning at 11 a.m. for Thursday, November 15 at University Park, according to a PSU Alert. Faculty and staff are dismissed at 11:30 a.m.

01PSU AlertU-P: UPark early dismissal due to snow. Students dismissed at 11 a.m.; faculty and staff at 11:30 a.m. Info: https://t.co/TwcQxhElmN

— PSU Alert UPark (@PSUAlertUP) November 15, 2018

Only employees identified as “performing essential services” should report beyond the official release time unless advised otherwise by their supervisor.

With a winter storm watch in effect from 8 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday, State College is expected to receive 4-6 inches of snow and some ice accumulation.

Penn State vice president for business and finance David Gray alluded to the possibility of a snow day Wednesday night at UPUA’s weekly assembly meeting.

Penn State VP David Gray at @UPUA meeting on tomorrow's weather forecast: "Stay tuned. Maybe we'll have an announcement to share with you at some point during the day if it's bad enough."

— Onward State (@OnwardState) November 15, 2018

Since the January 2017 icepocalypse, when university officials decided to go on with classes as scheduled before admitting later that night “we missed on this one,” Penn State has not messed around with wintry weather.

In March 2017, Penn State canceled everything until 10 p.m. due to snow. It happened again last February, with Penn State getting a majority snow day — all classes and activities canceled until 5 p.m. There was also a delayed opening until 10 a.m. in February 2017.

Administrators say they’ll continue to monitor the storm and provide any additional updates as necessary.