An expat shares his experience of Atlanta’s Winter Storm Cora and its surprises
Atlanta: So, I moved to Atlanta from California, and wow, my first winter storm was something else! Winter Storm Cora hit, and I was in for a surprise.
Rumors about a big storm started swirling around December 28. People were calling it the “snowpocalypse.” I saw posts on Reddit predicting a foot of snow. Can you believe that?
Social media was buzzing with excitement, but then came the backlash. Experts were saying you can’t predict snow levels accurately that far in advance. So, I tried to shake off the worry.
When the storm finally hit, I woke up to a chilly 24 degrees. I bundled up in my warmest clothes, but there was still no snow yet. Just a cold morning commute with everyone driving super slow.
At work, my coworkers were buzzing about the storm. They warned me about the possibility of an ice storm, which sounded terrifying. I had no clue what that meant!
They told me I might lose power, and that freaked me out. I started looking up warming shelters, which was a new concept for me. I’ve dealt with hurricanes, but this was different.
With no experience driving on ice, I decided to stay home. I figured I’d stock up on firewood and prepare for the worst. I even thought about setting up a tent inside if things got really bad.
The next day, I went out to gather supplies. The grocery store was packed! I grabbed some essentials and even helped myself to some firewood from a neighbor’s curb.
Finally, the day of the storm arrived. I woke up to my first snowfall! It was beautiful, but I had to work. I tried to focus, but the snow was so distracting.
After a few meetings, I finally got to enjoy the snow. It wasn’t a foot like some predicted, but over 2 inches was still a big deal for Atlanta. I felt like a kid again!
That night, I lit a fire in my fireplace for the first time. It took a few tries, but once it was going, I felt so cozy and accomplished.
The next day, the snow was melting, but I decided to stay in and watch movies. I even fell asleep in front of the fire. It was the perfect snow day.
Two days later, I had to brave the icy roads for a coffee date. I had to de-ice my car for the first time, which was a bit of a challenge. But I made it to the coffee shop, and it was worth it!
Afterward, I treated myself to a delicious brunch. As I walked back to my car, I realized I was getting used to the cold. It was actually a warm day at 41 degrees!
