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By Scott Mims | Community Columnist

If you are from the South like I am, then you know that severe winter weather is not a threat every year, especially as you get into the central and southern parts of Alabama. That’s why the years we do experience extreme cold and snow tend to stand out in our memories.

Thinking back on some of the coldest winters in Chilton County, the blizzard of 1993 stands out, as I recall waist-high snow in my grandparents’ front yard. I also remember our church at the time taking in several travelers and people who were temporarily displaced by the weather event.
I also recall the winter of 2013, when I was tasked with picking up a truckload of magazines in northern Mississippi and I had to return in a snowstorm to deliver them to two different destinations. The first drop-off point happened to be in downtown Birmingham, and of course it ended up happening during rush hour traffic. I remember one vehicle having to swerve off the road to avoid rear-ending my truck. On the way, there were numerous vehicles on the side of the road throughout Mississippi and Alabama.
Obviously, the South is less prepared for snow events than our neighbors up North, and as a result we tend to experience more setbacks in the midst of winter storms, and in the aftermath. At the same time, those of us who are still kids at heart become more excited about snow (a light snow, usually in these cases) because we don’t get as many chances to have snowball fights and build snowmen. Similarly, we also don’t get as many opportunities to wear hoodies and sweaters, and other forms of winter fashion.
As we are threatened by winter weather at the time of this writing, I hear people saying that they hate the cold. And while I believe them, I also think that part of them has forgotten how brutal and miserable summer can be in the South. I, for one, am grateful for a break from the humidity and heat; although I tend to gravitate toward fall as my favorite season rather than winter.
I encourage you to stay safe and warm this winter, and if you have a spare coat or an extra heater, perhaps you can lend it to someone in need.