Meteorologists diligently televise their radar predictions, teachers and students make guesses on whether school will be cancelled and parents run to the store to stock up with nonperishable food items; this is what happens when hazards such as Winter Storm Jupiter roll into Edwardsville.

But on Friday, Jan. 13, all of Edwardsville was put on hold as District 7 schools were cancelled, SIUE’s campus closed down and the roads were vacant as the freezing rain continued to poor.

According to USA Today, because of the havoc it caused across the Midwest plains to the Mid-Atlantic Coast, Jupiter could be considered the most dangerous storm the U.S. has had in 10 years.

But while some regions across the U.S. such as Sierra, Nevada experienced up to 80 inches of snow from the beginning of Jupiter’s wrath, Edwardsville seemed to have escaped the worst with temperatures only dropping to 27 degrees and almost no ice accumulation on the roadways, according to The Weather Channel

Nonetheless, District 7’s Superintendent Linda Andre decided to call off all school functions on Jan. 13 and 14. Although students may have been joyous for their Friday off of school, some were disheartened about the cancellations of their weekend plans.

The EHS EPIC trivia night was included in these cancellations, forcing EPIC to reschedule for Feb. 3.

“I loved having the ice day because we didn’t have to go to school, but I was looking forward to the (EPIC) trivia night,” senior Elaine Meyers said. “And now I think five people that were on our team can’t make it to the rescheduled date.”

But some were not as upset about the cancellation as Meyers ; EPIC Council member and junior Hannah Beck said that she was both happy and sad about the cancellation of trivia night because although everyone was excited to get their trivia on, these extra three weeks gives more teams the time and ability to sign up for the event.

Among the other postponed events, the boys varsity basketball game against Alton was also cancelled on Saturday Jan. 14 and rescheduled to Jan. 24.

“I was sad that it was cancelled mainly because I really wanted to play,” senior Oliver Stephen said, “but I also because I felt like we still could’ve played being there was no ice.”

Although sadness was felt all across the St. Louis area, the ice was quick to melt away and temperatures began to rise as early as Sunday night. Edwardsville woke from its hibernation and was back to its regular routine by Tuesday morning.

But despite student’s sadness about their weekend plans being postponed, the sound of Dr. Andre’s voice saying school will be cancelled was said to be almost worth the temporary confinement indoors.