Why Every Southerner Still Needs Waterproof Footwear
Boots, galoshes, and shoe covers are standard fare among Northerners. If you live anywhere in the north half of the country, it is a safe bet you have at least one pair. You need them to get through lousy winter and early spring weather. But what about Southerners? Where do they stand on waterproof footwear?
Southerners are less likely to own winter boots or heavy galoshes. After all, they barely see snow and ice. And when they do, they typically hunker down at home until the sun comes out and chases the water away. And yet, there is still a valid reason for Southerners to own waterproof footwear. It can be encapsulated in a simple phrase: summer rains.
Downpours Every Afternoon
Southern winters tend to be extremely dry. You get a mixed bag in the spring and fall. But in summer, it rains. Not only that, but it also rains hard just about every afternoon. That is the way things work thanks to weather patterns in the southern portion of the country.
If you live in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, etc., you know all too well that afternoon downpours are almost guaranteed. It rains so hard at times that you can barely see ten foot in front of you. And once it stops raining, it can take a while for all of that water to drain away. What do you do in the meantime?
Let’s say you are an accomplished attorney with a practice in Tampa, Florida. You cannot avoid going down to the courthouse on summer afternoons because of the rain. The legal system marches on regardless of the weather. If you are smart, you invest in a pair of waterproof shoe covers. Salt Lake City GC Tech makes a fine pair. Regardless of who you buy them from though, they are the best tool for keeping your shoes dry on your way to the courthouse.
Tropical Storms and Hurricanes
Daily afternoon downpours are expected in southern states. That’s reason enough to invest in waterproof footwear. But wait, there’s more. Southern states are also prone to tropical storms and hurricanes for six months of the year. Storms can dump tremendous amounts of rain in a very short time.
Tropical storms and hurricanes are generally categorized according to wind speeds. But as any lifelong Southerner can tell you, wind isn’t the big problem with such storms. Water is. Between rainfall and storm surge, the water generated by a tropical storm or hurricane can be devastating.
Just 4 to 6 inches of rain can cause retention ponds and rivers to run over. And because the water table tends to be so low in some spots, it can take days for standing water to recede. Without waterproof footwear, you either hunker down at home or live with soaked feet every time you go out.
Water Is Still Water
At the end of the day, water is still water regardless of where you live. Northerners have to face rain and sleet during the late fall and early spring. They deal with snow and ice during the winter. The rest of the year, rain is always a possibility. It is to be expected that Northerners would want a good pair of boots or galoshes. But Southerners are no different.
Water is still a problem in the south. It is just that it is concentrated in a shorter period of time. From about mid-April to the end of September, Southerners know they are going to get plenty of rain. That’s why every Southerner should have at least one pair of waterproof shoes – be they boots, galoshes, or overshoes.