With the weather changing in Utah, Skyline High School students and locals have different views about the weather. Many have exclaimed they aren’t looking forward to the winter season due to how cold it is, while others are excited about the temperature change and are looking forward to the cold season.
The cold season started in late October, and as soon as it came in, students were constantly talking and sharing their opinions about the weather changes. One student named Gabi Boyden shared her views about the weather. “I take the bus home from school, so I’m not like dying of heat at the bus stop [during the winter season],” Boyden said. “There are a lot more sports you can do like sledding and skiing.” In this case, the excitement about having the cold weather coming in and that it is something to look forward to. Other students would disagree with Boyden, as many have said that walking and being outside is a “nightmare” because of how cold it is. Another student, Raylee Coombs, shared opposite feelings about the weather change. “It gives you kind of a depressed feeling, and it gets you sick really easily. It’s just never a fun time,” Coombs said. She added that, even though snow can be fun, having your body so cold that your hands and feet turn red is dreary. All students at Skyline have very different views about the weather, giving good points about their arguments.
Locally around Salt Lake City, there has been news of many upcoming storms, and many are questioning how this year will look weather-wise for Utah. The National Weather Service is constantly watching the weather in Utah and has reported that, in one week, there has been a winter storm warning in certain parts of Utah, a hazardous weather lookout on the East side of Utah, and a freeze watch in St. George. Temperatures outside have already dropped dramatically, and it isn’t even the coldest that it will get this year in Utah, as December and January are the coldest months in Utah. According to the Park City and Summit County News, “Experts are also looking at the possibility of a La Niña winter, which occurs when conditions are about a half degree or colder than normal. The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center said there’s a 74% chance a La Niña will persist during the 2024-25 season, and it’s expected to be weak.” With the high chance of a La Niña winter, opinions about the recent and upcoming weather changes may differ among students and residents.
Cold weather has pros and cons, and students and locals have presented many reasons for both. Some of the great things about the weather that have been advocated are the Christmas season; winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding; and winter activities. There is also winter clothing, the “cozy” feeling, and snow/snowing in general, and the pro-winter side advocated that winter is great because no heat waves make it harder to be outside, the views, and even more. As for disadvantages of the weather change, students have said getting sick, being too cold, having to clean snow or ice off your car, getting seasonal affective disorder (SAD), driving in bad weather, slipping and falling, getting socks wet from walking through the snow, and lots more as well. Both views are reasonable points for why the weather change can be seen as good or bad.
Whether winter is good or bad depends on one’s personal perspective. Weather change is part of the seasonal cycle, and it will come every year, and every year people will either be excited about the cold season or dread it.
