The 2014 Snowmageddon, or Snowpocalypse, a notably impactful snowstorm in Georgia history, placed anxiety and anticipation of the next snow within the hearts of Georgians. The unpredictable nature of Georgia weather causes citizens to doubt snow each year and wonder if the forecast will showcase high or low temperatures in chillier months such as December and January. Four years later, 2018 occupied measurable amounts of snow, atypical to the years prior.
As seen in the 2014 snowpocalypse, snowfall carries drawbacks to numerous daily routines, especially the education system. The snow causes panic among parents and students alike, as well as the administration of schools, and poses a concern for the weekend. After numerous children and teachers became trapped in school buildings during the 2014 snowstorm and roads became dangerous, schools now refuse to risk of repeating history.
“The last time I had snow was when I lived in New York City. I moved to Georgia my freshman year, so the snow here versus there is completely different — in New York we can [have] at least 10-15 feet of snow. I feel like tomorrow is a good day to rest and catch up on sleep. I plan to fix my sleep schedule since it got messed up over the break, but overall I plan to hang out with my best friend,” senior Najalae Griffith said.
Thursday, January 9, the Cobb County School district officially canceled school as well as extracurriculars on Friday, January 10 due to severe weather and forecasted ice and snow — which additionally caused Cobb government buildings to close as of January 8. A winter no-storm watch set into place the days prior, pushing preparation such as brining and salting roads and purchasing emergency supplies in advance. The main concern for Cobb schools–dangerous road conditions–caused concerns in the transportation of students and staff traveling in the morning and afternoon school times.
Educators organized assignments to work on for the canceled school day to ensure students make progress and complete assignments within their first week of the second semester. As seen in multiple other points throughout the year, these days include instruction on various online resources such as Cobb Teaching and Learning System (CTLS), allowing students to work from the comfort of their own homes. Especially accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic that caused various parts of the education system to transfer to online formats, technology-dominant school assignments can now easily fall into the hands of students and ensure that school persists through unfortunate weather events.
The snow, predicted to show from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., will mix with sleet and frozen rain, varying throughout the state of Georgia. Contrary to the rapidly melting snow that typically falls in Georgia, this storm faces predictions that the snow will stick through Saturday, January 11 and even Sunday, January 12. North Georgia will expectedly see up to six inches of snow, and other areas will see one to two inches.
“I’m so excited for the snow tomorrow because I love hanging out with my friends and drinking hot cocoa in the cold weather. It makes me feel so happy and secure while also giving me time to relax when I would normally be in school. I think it was good they canceled school because I don’t want to risk getting hurt driving to school and many people wouldn’t have shown up anyways,” senior Gabriella Larson said.
While numerous Georgians anticipate the upcoming snowstorm, school systems reflect the worries of the winter with their closings to keep each citizen safe and warm. Although sprinkles of flurries may appear in previous seasons of snow in Georgia, this predicted winter storm faces expectations to provide citizens with inches of snow for fun activities. From building snowmen to sitting inside by the fire, The Chant wishes for safety and a day of fun for family and friends alike.
