STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

For the first time in 108 years, an early-season snowfall blanketed this Central Pennsylvania college town, complicating life for 100,000 Penn State fans expected at today's football game.

AccuWeather said 7 inches of snow fell between Thursday and 8 a.m. yesterday, while the National Weather Service put the total at 4.7 inches.

The previous earliest snowfall recorded here was Oct. 18, 1901, when one-tenth of an inch fell.

With an additional 2 to 8 inches of snow forecast prior to game time, the university has banned tailgating and tents and closed all grass parking lots -- roughly 20,000 spots.

"It's pretty unbelievable," said senior meteorologist Tom Kines of AccuWeather. "There is a big variation in the total snowfall all across Centre County, but the average range was probably from 3 to 7 inches.

"It caught everybody off guard."

Paternoville, the area outside Gate A at the stadium where Penn State students camp out in tents in order to secure wristbands for admission to the upcoming football game, was shut down Thursday night due to the inclement weather. There were more than 200 campers in 30 tents.

Trees and power lines were down all over area yesterday morning. And the heavy, wet snow also has had a major impact on Penn State's Big Ten Conference football game today against Minnesota at Beaver Stadium.

"The weather is definitely wreaking havoc on homecoming weekend," said Ann Marie Mountz, Penn State's assistant director for public information. "Obviously, it does put a crimp in our celebration."

However, Mr. Kines speculated that "there will be more tailgating than they want. It's just a hunch."

The grass lots were closed mainly for safety reasons.

"The ground was not yet frozen, and the amount of slushy snow that has fallen has turned the lots muddy," the university said in a news release. "There already is close to a half-foot of snow on these lots, with up to an additional half-foot or so being forecast, making the lots impassable and treacherous to motor vehicle traffic."

Parking also will be restricted in paved lots and those bringing RVs to the game may be directed to other locations for parking.

Ms. Mountz said the university is working with local businesses to provide alternative parking areas for other fans, as well as free shuttle service.

Conditions inside Beaver Stadium also will be somewhat treacherous, Ms. Mountz said, because of snow-covered and slippery walkways and seats.

Mr. Kines said today's snowfall total is hard to predict, but he did say another system is moving toward the area.

"It's going to be a close call," he said. "The worst-case scenario is that it will snow a good chunk of the day and we get a few more inches before the game.

"But if the heavy precipitation misses us, then we're just going to get a little bit of rain and snow during the day. Either way, it's going to be an overcast, chilly day, with temperatures in the mid-30s."

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