Here is the official forecast for Nashville as it stands right now:
Tonight
Light snow developing after midnight. Accumulation around 1 inch. Lows in the mid 20s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90 percent.
Thursday
Light snow in the morning...then a mix of light rain...snow and sleet in the afternoon. Additional snow and sleet accumulation around 1 inch. Storm total accumulation around 2 inches. Highs in the mid to upper 30s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
As a former Michigander, I must admit that I am having quite a bit of fun watching everyone freak out over a potential 2 inches of snow. People were taking work out the door with them in case they had to work from home tomorrow. People with 4-wheel-drives were commenting how nervous they were about how bad the roads might be. And when I drove up the hill into my apartment complex today, the driveway had already been pre-salted . . . just in case.
Now, I assure you that I have already heard all the usual commentary about snow in Nashville: (1) people here don’t know how to drive in snow, (2) we don’t have the equipment down here to handle snow, (3) you may know how to drive in snow, but ice is a whole different situation, and (4) remember that terrible snowstorm in 2004 when it took us all 8 hours to make the normally 30-minute drive home!?
I’m all for being “better safe than sorry” when it comes to bad weather (which is why I always had a blanket, boots, a small shovel, snacks, and a candle in my car during the winter months in Michigan), but this much excitement and concern seems a little disproportionate to the amount of snow predicted, and honestly seems to border on irrational behavior.
But, since I don’t think I can really do much to reassure people that it is honestly going to be alright, I thought I would – at best – share some factoids of truly amazing Nashville weather, or – at worst – just feed the paranoia.
Here’s my personal highlight:
Most snowfall in 24 hours: 17.0", March 17, 1892
Now that’s something to freak out about!
