Freshman Melanie Allen catches snowflakes on her tongue for the first time Image provided by Allison Feldman/The Sting

Whitney Ashley & Alysa Slavik attack the enemy in a snowball fight Image provided by Allison Feldman/The Sting

Students pose around a snowman they built Image provided by Allison Feldman/The Sting

At approximately 5 pm on January 16, Southern Poly experienced something that occurs rarely in Atlanta – snow, and a good bit of it. While evening classes continued, most students ran outside to play in the winter wonderland that ensued on campus. Many people who have lived near Atlanta for most of their lives have not seen snow in recent years, and a handful of students had never seen snow at all.

Howell residents especially were enjoying the layer of fresh snow. Snowball fights; snow angels, and snowmen were just some of the activities occurring under the night sky between the dorms, as much of the snow collected on the field. Others sat in their rooms, warming up with some hot cocoa while watching the snow out of their windows. As the night continued on and the snow turned to ice, the more brave souls went out for some sledding.

To many students’ dismay, the snow melted overnight, meaning classes were still in session the following morning. Regardless, many students decided to not show up for class at all. There were still remnants of the previous nights’ activities around campus; the snowmen that were built lasted (mostly) until the morning, and even remained for a few days after.

While people were still reeling about the bizarre weather during the week, many were shocked to see snow again three days later – that following Saturday, it began snowing a second time around 10 in the morning. While a lot of students had gone home for the three-day weekend, those on campus were able to enjoy a free day in the snow without the worry of classes. There were a lot less people in the snow this time around, but there were still some out there playing in it.

Students enjoyed more sledding during the daylight snow, especially on the hill by the I Building, and on the large mound between the Courtyard apartments and Community Center. Even after a lot of the snow had melted or frozen to ice, sledders were compacting the residual snow to keep a track for their boards and sleds.

Extremely cold temperatures for the following few nights meant that what snow stayed on the ground were kept frozen for a few days, preserving the memories from the past week. While no one can really predict when we’ll get snow again, or if it will even be this winter the next time it does. Even though no classes were canceled this time around, many students are just surprised and thankful it snowed twice in one week in Marietta.