I believe him. I'm familiar with cold snowy winters. Lived in Chicago for over 40 years, went to school in MN and spent a lot of time in WI.
We moved to TN this year... our kids have been out of school since before Christmas due to "snow and cold." There is no snow, or ice anywhere. I drove up into the "mountains" yesterday, no snow up there either.
This is what a snow day looks like in Tennessee.
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I lived in the Chicago area for roughly 10 yrs to go to college and work for several years thereafter (in Schaumburg). That place was a "MACHINE" when it came to snow. A few tiny snowflakes and they were out with multiple plows, salt spreaders, brush sweepers (for the sidewalks), etc. etc. In the four odd years I went to Univ, they only stopped classes once, for snow... for two consecutive days. Only once!