Is snow news good news?

If there is one thing every meteorologist in the South can agree on, it's this: S-N-O-W is a four letter word that should be avoided at all cost unless you really--REALLY think it may happen.

If you've lived here long, you know that staples like eggs and milk fly off the shelf at just the mention of flurries. By the way, I've never understood that one either--and I grew up in Georgia. Shouldn't we stock up on nonperishable goods when there's a chance the power may go out? If you're like many who moved here from the North to get away from the snow and cold weather, you have likely made fun of us southerners for getting so worked up over an inch, or better yet, just a mention of snow in the forecast. You've also probably noticed that schools are typically closed before the first flake of snow ever falls--talk about pressure on me. That's one forecast I don't EVER want to get wrong!

Well, before you make fun of southerners or question the judgment of local school administrators, let me try to put it into perspective. There are basically two factors that make snow--even a little bit--a much bigger deal in the South. First, there are virtually no snow plows here and not nearly enough salt trucks to treat all of the major roads let alone the backroads. Secondly, as a whole, we simply don't know how to drive in it! It's not our fault and has nothing to do with southerners not being good drivers. I mean, think about it. It's all about what you're used to. 90 degrees in the summer is a heat wave up north, but 90 degrees is a nice break from the heat in the south. The same concept applies to snow in the south. With accumulating snow only occurring once every couple of years and assuming the average person will drive for about 60 years, the average southerner will only drive in the snow about 30 times through his or her entire life. Up north, they drive in it that many times in just one winter! That's probably why the 1 to 2 inches of snow the Pee Dee got Wednesday caused more than 150 accidents! Then again, I wonder how many of those involved folks who moved here from up north who got just a little overconfident? Hmmm.

So, back to my original question. When I say it's going to snow, is that good news to you or bad news? Based on the hundreds and hundreds of pictures people emailed to me yesterday, I have a feeling "snow news" really is good news. What do you think?

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