Here we go again with forecasts for snow and winter precipitation. I cannot remember a winter that would not go away, not that it has been a deep freeze all season, but it seems we have had one cold front after another and, within the last couple of weeks, the threat of ice, sleet, freezing rain or snow.

While last Friday’s snow was the most we had received, it is always apparent that we are not programmed for winter precipitation, nor are we able to drive on the snow that falls. Within an hour of snowfall, cars were stuck on the interstate for hours, and people that were fifteen minutes from home spent one or more hours reaching their destinations. This is not the fault of anyone; we just are not accustomed to dealing with snow and ice.

There are those who want to complain that those in charge of the highways and roads should be more prepared, but it would be hard to justify the kind of investment it would take to have the equipment to clear the roads when we might have one snowfall per year, and that is still a rare occurrence. Most equipment would rust before it could be put into use even once per year.

I think public works and road works departments from the city, county and state are to be commended for the job they are able to accomplish in winter weather. It seems that putting sand and salt on roads, bridges and overpasses are the best we can do in our area to combat the ice and snow that falls.  These folks are out working while the snow and ice is still falling to hopefully ensure that folks can travel and to make the roads as safe as possible.

School systems are also on the hot seat this time of year. If they delay or cancel school and nothing falls from the sky, folks think they made the wrong call. If they do not delay or cancel school and someone is injured or a school bus has an accident, they are also blamed again.

Weather forecasting is not an exact science. Many factors can take place that will cause the projected precipitation to fall in different forms, or not fall at all. The folks making those calls do the best job possible, but they will tell you weather forecasting is still a prediction of what will happen.

So regardless of what falls from the sky, most of us will survive even if we have to make changes in our schedules and might be inconvenienced for a short time. But I for one am thankful for “global warming,” otherwise we might be covered in snow all winter.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.