Cary and Morrisville covered in snow, kids sledding, no school, late winter walks and hot chocolate. This dream for many students may be a reality as the Triangle expects above-average levels of snow as one of the few regions in the United States predicted to receive snowy weather. The Old Farmer Almanac, predicting weather with an 80% accuracy, perceives current shifts in weather patterns as the cause.
The Triangle sits in the Southeast of the United States, and the region is projected to receive colder than average temperatures and greater amounts of snowfall this winter. The cold temperatures are due to the quasi-biennial oscillation (a stratospheric wind) shifting cold air towards the Carolinas. The coldest periods are projected to last from late December to early February. Snowiest weather is expected for the Triangle region in late January, and the eastern Southeast will get the most snow in mid-December.
The Old Farmers Almanac, predicting weather since 1792, believes weather is influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the sun’s surface. With a combination of observing sunspots, meteorology and climatology, the weather is predicted and the predictions are leveled with 30 year averages.
In anticipation of expected winter weather, Wake County Public Schools issued new guidance to teachers and administrators on remote learning options for students. The guidance requires teachers to prepare five days worth of asynchronous learning assignments to be sent on Canvas when students miss their school. Students must complete the assignments to be considered present for the days missed, but can turn in the assignments upwards of three days coming back to school. Teachers are also required to check their school emails for possible questions by students. Even with the possibility of asynchronous work during snow days, Mrs. Mary White, an English teacher at Green Hope, wishes students to “have fun” in the snow and enjoy their time. Wake County responses towards inclement weather range over the years, and in 2007, 3,000 students in 50 schools were stranded overnight.
For Olivia Percival-Shim (‘27), she enjoys winter time for the opportunity “to go sledding with friends” and “watch movies with family or friends.” With predictions of above-average levels of snow, she reflected excitedly, “I’m looking forward to not going to school and going sledding like I said before, making snowmen and just having fun with my friends.”
Mrs. White also enjoys the opportunity to be out in the snow. “I like to go on walks throughout my neighborhood and to enjoy the pretty scenery,” she shared, “and then I’ll usually make a cup of hot chocolate.”
In inclement weather cases, the State of North Carolina recommends for people to formulate a plan for how they will respond in the event of different weather patterns. Individuals also are recommended to maintain an emergency kit that consists of many items useful in times when power may be out, where individuals can be stranded for long periods of time. Finally, individuals are recommended by the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management to stay informed with storm conditions through the Emergency Alert System, NOAA weather service, wireless emergency alerts and alerts from local governments.
