To make this clear, I am not some big fanatic of winter weather. If I was Mother Nature's personal weather planning consultant to God, I wouldn't mind 70's and sunny all year long. This would probably mess up the eco-system a bit, but that's beside the point.
I would much rather have temps kept to 20's and below outside during winter rather than 30's and 40's. This is because I live in and around counties who don't like to salt and plow their roads. This becomes an issue when the temp is 33 outside and the good ole' "wintery mix" (watched way too much of the Weather Channel growing up) hits, turning roads into skating/slush rinks.
Anyone who has driving experience realizes that driving on ice and slush sucks. Black ice and deep slush in particular. Traction lessons considerably, and the order of "Incompetent Driver" becomes even more dangerous than usual. I personally know how to handle my vehicle on ice and slush. However, many others don't (or don't care). Thus, I am far more worried about some idiotic driver injuring me than I am of losing control of my vehicle via my own devices.
Snow, "On the Other Hand" (Randy Travis), is really not that bad to drive on - especially when it's real cold out and it makes that squeaking noise. Cold snow actually has more traction than "warmer" snow because it has less liquid water in/around it. I learned this concept growing up and sliding down snow covered hills in the winter. You slide a lot faster on snow when it's in the upper 20's - 30's than when it's colder out. This is because there is more friction sliding on colder snow because there's not as much liquid water present.
Therefore, I'd rather have plain snow than ice and slush. So 32 degrees and below.
Plus, snow looks cooler than ice and slush.
Additionally, "warmer" winter weather tends to cause power outages. Heavy "wet" snow (due to warmer temps) weigh down on tree limbs which break and fall on power lines. This combined with freezing rain/ice contribute to downed power lines (that PSA they kept playing over and over about downed power lines is playing in my head now, great) and thus power outages.
In other notes, I find it interesting that the people who bemoan cold temperatures are often the same people who spend the great majority of their time indoors. Generally, these people only go outside to travel to/from their vehicles and to get the mail. Okay, so I might be exaggerating a bit. But seriously, if you're only outside for very limited stretches of time, just deal with it. There are people who have occupations that demand they work outside in winter. There are also people without a home who sleep outside in the winter. So put a jacket, hat, and gloves on. Not too freaking hard (if finacially applicable). Or as my dad would say, "Dress for it."
