I remember one time I was installing a machine in Greenville, SC. On one particular Thursday it was sunny and about 45 F. and about noon the place began to empty. I asked one of the machine operator trainees what was going on and they told me, "The forecast just came out and they are predicting up to 4 inches of snow by tomorrow morning and schools were closing and they need to get groceries." Remember, it was sunny and about 45 degrees.
I couldn't believe it. I asked why they needed to get groceries and was told just in case they get snowed in. "Until Saturday?" I asked somewhat sarcastically. I guess the store shelves typically empty very quickly.
In their defense, it wasn't the snow that was the problem but the freezing rain that came first. I had never seen such a thick layer of ice on things before and it made walking very difficult much less driving but as I expected, by the end of the day Friday most of it was melted. They actually believed they could get snowed in for days.
I laugh every time the weather forecast calls for significant snow these days even around here. In the past decade or so, things have really changed. In all my high school years I cannot recall more than maybe one or two times when school was cancelled or delayed due to weather. As kids we crossed our fingers hoping for a cancellation so we could have the day to enjoy sledding and playing in the new drifts. I lived in a small town of about 250 and we walked about two blocks to the bus stop and believe it or not it was actually uphill, albeit not a big hill. The bus route was always opened first so we never got snow days off.
I remember one time after a major storm that dropped about 13" of new snow with wind. The next day, as is typical in northern Minnesota, it was very cold at I think about -40+ F. with -60+ wind chill and we walked through thigh deep snow backward so we wouldn't have to face the wind to get to the bus stop.
Today, they'll close the school just for cold temps when the forecast calls for -20 F. or lower and it is not uncommon to close when the forecast calls for more than about 6" of new snow. My guess is a concern about liability as we live in a sue-happy country these days.