Despite the closing of North Dakota State for the first time since 2014, Daryl Ritchison, interim director of North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network, said it’s totally normal.

“It’s the classic March snowstorm,” Ritchison said. He continued to say that it’d be more unusual for it not to happen and that sloppy snow can typically be seen before spring rolls around.

The warmer weather we experienced about a week ago, when it got up into the 40s, is common before a storm like the one that occurred March 5. Heat from the east and cold from the west brought about the storm.

Some people reported seeing or hearing thunder and lighting a day before the snowstorm, which isn’t rare according to Ritchison. The water or rain at the surface of a cloud can trigger static electricity, and it’s all part of the spring time scenario.

“Some areas had thunder snow; I wouldn’t call it rare,” Ritchison said.

Despite many people remaining indoors for the duration of the storm, fraternities and ResLife on NDSU’s campus didn’t seem to mind the snow.

About 60 people joined at Churchill Field to play in the snow, with many spending most of their snow day doing so.

They built snow forts and had a snowball fight, similar to how many of them spent their snow days as children.

Among their creations included a slingshot used to propel snowballs as far as a house across the street from A. Glenn Hill Center.

“What better way to spend a day than out here with the guys building a snow fort,” said Nathaniel Boisjolie-Gair, a senior in mechanical engineering at NDSU and a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.

They even made it onto WDAY, providing entertainment to themselves and content for local news sources.

As far as the future is concerned, spring can be expected around April 19 if spring is measured by the 70-degree mark, Ritchison said.