When snow and ice hits the DFW metroplex, a common refrain can be heard around campus.

“It’s not the Texas weather you have to worry about, it’s the Texas drivers,” senior Holden Gibson said, laughing about how Texans poorly handle an amount of winter precipitation that would be scoffed at in his native Kansas.

However, is winter weather really that uncommon in North Texas?

Over the past five years, Fort Worth has averaged five days of registered snowfall annually, according to the Weather Underground archives.

DFW natives may remember an ice storm around the time of the 2011 Super Bowl that caused havoc in the area.

More recently, TCU cancelled classes for a total of two days last week due to inclement weather, and students enjoyed a white campus commons in Februray.

Provost Nowell Donovan said he estimates TCU has closed for a total of 10 schooldays over the past eight years.

His numbers may be a little low, however, as TCU was closed for five days in 2011 alone.

With the recent history of winter weather in this area, why are Texas drivers still rumored to struggle on icy roads, and more importantly, why are TCU cancellations still considered rarities instead of common occurrences?

TCU does a great job of informing students of “snow days” through the TCU Alert system, which was only bested this year by screenshots of GroupMe messages from Chancellor Boschini’s children that were spread around the TCU student body like wildfire.

However, it’s appropriate to begin expecting and planning for the next drove of winter weather.

For one, the availability of the new multi-purpose center provides closer dining options to students who live in the Worth Hills area, which is helpful in icy conditions.

The difficulty lies in the availability of dining services employees, as many workers can’t make it to TCU in dangerous driving conditions. But if the schedules and food availability for both the Multi-Purpose Facility and Market Square are preset, students showed this year that they are happy to help out.

Additionally, if school is cancelled ahead of time, students could volunteer to salt the sidewalks and steps on campus to prevent any injuries before the snow and ice accumulates.

This could help alleviate the need for TCU Physical Plant workers to use leaf-blowers to melt the ice on the sidewalks the next day.

Finally, snow days provide a perfect opportunity for a break from a rigorous school schedule and for some sweet childhood nostalgia. With planning and enough time for preparation, theCrew and other organizations could capitalize on the day away from the classroom.

Sleds could be provided in the campus commons. Perhaps the intramural fields could be arranged for a snow football tournament. Maybe set up a course for a two-sided snowball fight. Hot chocolate and coffee could be available inside to warm back up. There are plenty of options.

Winter weather will return to TCU’s campus in the future, and as always, students and faculty/staff members will adapt. But with some additional preparation, the TCU community could capitalize on the untapped potential of a ‘snow day’ in Fort Worth.

Managing Editor Evan Watson for the editorial board.