Roma defied both the weather and a spirited Atalanta resistance to claim a 3-2 victory at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia.
The game was hours away from being called off as a heavy band of snow refused to leave Bergamo, but on-loan Inter Milan striker Marko Livaja ensured there would be a contest with his rapid opening goal.
Marquinho pegged Atalanta back before Miralem Pjanic turned the game on its head with an exquisite free-kick, only for Livaja to complete his brace heading into half-time.
Vasilis Torosidis waited for the snow to clear to head the winner and Atalanta promptly unravelled as Matteo Contini saw red following an unseemly scrap with Simone Perrotta.
Daniele Conti scored the winner deep into stoppage time as Cagliari defeated nine-man Torino 4-3 in one of the most dramatic games of the Serie A season - inside an empty stadium.
The Sardinian club were barred from hosting fans at the Stadio Is Arenas due to on going safety concerns and local supporters were urged to stay at home andfollow the game on television.
Any avid watchers would have to wait until midway through the first half before Marco Sau gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot following a careless foul from Angelo Ogbonna.
The second half, though, was played at breakneck speed as the lead changed hands three times thanks to quickfire goals between Alessio Cerci, Alen Stefanovic, Conti, Mauricio Pinilla and Rolando Bianchi.
Torino eventually lost both the hapless Ogbonna and his defensive replacement Abou Diop to red cards and Conti duly exploited the space to drive in a scintillating winner from distance, just seconds before the final whistle.
Sampdoria moved clear of Chievo and effectively clear of any relegation fears thanks to a 2-0 win at snowy Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa.
Andrea Poli gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute before the sleet turned to snow, and Eder struck the second with seven minutes remaining.
Chievo's attempts to find an equaliser throughout the second half were thwarted as they were left just eight points above the danger zone.
Alberto Malesani is still waiting for his first win as Palermo head coach as his former club Genoa held the Rosanero to a goalless draw at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.
Palermo needed well over an hour to get warmed up and, just as their engines were roaring into life, they lost Salvatore Aronica to a red card, effectively ending their hopes of picking up more than a point.
Genoa proved once again how difficult they are to break down since former Palermo boss Davide Ballardini took over, and they will treasure a point that gives them a five-point cushion over the bottom three.
Catania survived a late onslaught and the dismissal of Nicola Legrottaglie to
continue their march towards Europe with a 2-1 victory at Parma.
The Sicilians knew that three points from the Stadio Ennio Tardini would give them a share of sixth place with Fiorentina, whose game at Bologna was postponed, and first-half goals from Francesco Lodi and Keko were enough to see them through.
Parma, who are now without a win in seven, regrouped after the break but failed to make half-a-dozen solid chances on goal count until Amauri finally forced a consolation goal with time running out.
