Winter weather causes reschedule of Winter Formal, students speak out on bad conditions

As the winter season starts to leave Iowa, the weather has still impacted our school events. Winter Formal, originally slated for Saturday, January 20th, found itself at the mercy of unfavorable road conditions, prompting a reschedule to Friday, February 9th. This decision moved because of safety concerns for young drivers navigating potentially dangerous roads on a Saturday night. Many had planned for the initial date, and the sudden change disrupted their arrangements, forcing them to change schedules and plans. Junior Gavin Firch says “I’m excited to go to Winter Formal, but the changing times do make it more difficult but it’s better than it being completely canceled.” The weather was one of the worst ones in recent history, this month’s 27.2 inches of snow was nearly triple the norm, leading to the second snowiest January on record. The highest being 1886 with 37 inches. With a turnaround in late January and early February, with abnormal highs and melting of most of the snow. 

School has also been canceled multiple times these past weeks due to bad weather. This year winter has been one of the worst ones in Iowan history. After an unseasonably warm December to the end of 2023, the beginning of 2024 reminded us what Iowan winter can really feel like. This onslaught of wintry weather came in waves, starting with heavy snowfall on the night of January 11th and lasting through January 12th. Accumulations were highest over southern and southeastern Iowa where amounts ranged from 10 to 14 inches, then steadily let off further northwest where it snowed 6 to 8. All this snow caused the roads to not be in the best of conditions. However the snow has stopped and it has been getting warmer, melting most of the snow. Senior Ethan Mitchell works over in Ankeny, and because of this, he had to drive on the busy and icy roads. “Everyone was driving 25 mph along I-80 West. It was super slick, and there were a ton of cars stuck in ditches and crashing into each other”

Winter Formal was supposed to have happened on Saturday, January 20th, but was rescheduled to Friday, February 9th. Now when students heard this they were understandably upset and even a little angry. Many students had planned for the dance ahead of time and had plans to go out, but since it was rescheduled many had to move plans. This decision was made because the road conditions on Saturday were going to be bad conditions for lots of young drivers, especially at night and in the same parking lot. However changing the date from a Saturday night to a Friday creates some problems for the students, such as less time to get ready before, not being available, and going right after school. Junior Jack Lau says “Many good things were happening such as increased sleep, and extra study time. However, there were some cons such as being stuck inside all day.” Some teachers are relieved for the changed date because they have an easier time chaperoning at the dance.