Coldest Weather I've been in

Bunyip · Dec 18, 2013

theundeadkennedy said:
I spend half my life in the Arctic, 2 weeks up at work, two weeks at home. I've been doing this for 12 years and I can attest that below -25 F it doesn't all feel the same.

The coldest I've had to work in, before there was what we call "cold weather shutdown", was -113 F wind chill. I believe the ambient temp was in the low -70s F. I've regularly spent time in extreme cold my whole adult life, but there are certain times when it gets so cold that you can feel it down to your marrow for days after, no matter how warm your dressed or how well your covered up or how often you go warm up.

I really think -50 ambient is around where you hit that truly deep down cold that you tend to feel after.

I can't imagine that.. Can relate to cold bones and the like, but that's go for a walk and end up dead as disco stuff...like Liam in the grey....

Doctor Damage · Dec 18, 2013

Bunyip said:
...but that's go for a walk and end up dead as disco stuff...

Back when I was younger I used to read FRANK magazine, which was a Canadian political satire magazine (rag, actually). On the back page they always had some ranting and rambling by a character called 'Dick Little', who was supposedly a WW2 vet and dedicted Legion member, i.e. drinker. One winter, after the news reported someone died after falling into a snowbank, 'Dick' commented saying "At my age I have to worry about falling easily. But if I have to fall into a snowbank and freeze to death, I hope it happens on my way back from the Legion. I'd hate to miss my last last call."

Seb Lucas · Dec 18, 2013

Summer here. 104 degrees today (or as we know it, 40 degrees Celsius) no jackets around here.

DougC · Dec 18, 2013

I moved to Indianapolis in 1993 just in time for the coldest winter in 150 years...minus 70 with the windchill-from Texas where is was 70 degrees when I left. I moved back to Texas within two years. Sorry, no leather jacket story...

blazerbud · Dec 19, 2013

I read through this thread and kept trying to think of something cute to say, but It's all drained out of me now. I'm scared of some of the cold you guys have seen. I don't like this game.

IXL · Dec 19, 2013

^^^ I know what you mean. That night I almost froze to death in a windswept field, it was 5°F. Some of these guys have been in temps, I don't know, about a million times colder: I feel like such a wuss.....

Mark Ricketts · Dec 19, 2013

It does not matter what the actual temperature is, it matters how kitted up you are. If you fall asleep with no clothes and no shelter, hypothermia can take you out at plus 5 Centigrade. Water also transfers heat twenty seven times quicker than air.
At the risk of sounding overly preachy, you have never felt real cold if you are outside by choice, with proper equipment and have a nice warm house to go back to. It's been brass monkeys out there so far this winter. So spare a thought for those less fortunate than us, go to your closet, find the warmest spare jacket you no longer use and donate it to someone who really needs it. Christmas is about what you give, not what you get.

Worf · Dec 19, 2013

Seb Lucas said:
Summer here. 104 degrees today (or as we know it, 40 degrees Celsius) no jackets around here.

Have I told you lately... that I find your warmth hoarding completely dispicable?

Worf

Horace Debussy Jones · Dec 21, 2013

I think the coldest i've seen it was about minus 30F. Not bad if dressed for it. There was no wind to speak of, but without the wind chill it was still mighty cold. I know when it's 0 or below by the crunch of the snow underfoot, and if my face starts to hurt after a minute or two. That's scarf weather.

HudsonHawk · Dec 21, 2013

Coldest I've ever been in is around 20 degrees. Which is 30 degrees too cold.

Tomasso · Dec 21, 2013

Horace Debussy Jones said:
I I know when it's 0 or below by the crunch of the snow underfoot, and if my face starts to hurt after a minute or two.

Yeah, facial pain is an excellent indicator. When I try to describe extreme cold to those with no experience I tell them to imagine their face being stuck with thousands of needles. And that's 'stage one.' :eeek:

winterland1 · Dec 23, 2013

Some great cold weather stories. Having lived in Minnesota most of my life and the Northern part for a good part, the cold becomes a way of life. As some have mentioned the cold can be very dangerous. We are instilled from very young to always have our hat, boots and mittens. When in the car to bring a blanket, boots, emergency kit with candles, some food etc.
The winter though dangerous is also is very beautiful and layers is the key to keeping warm outside. Some good food for energy also helps.
Minnesota had our record low of -60F in 1996. I think the coldest I have experienced is -45F maybe a little lower. When it is that cold the facemask and many layers come out so you are covered head to toe.
It is kind of romantic in the winter as some have mentioned. Coming in from the cold and warming up to a nice fire, maybe a warm drink, food etc. Winter camping and other activities are another way to keep challenged in keeping warm and enjoying the outdoors.
I have been wearing my leather jackets with layers most of the time this winter except when going outside for shoveling, sliding etc then the snowboard type wind/water proof shell with button in fleece lining comes out.

Dumpster Diver · Dec 23, 2013

Being stuck in an Ice storm for two days with no power, Eventually the romance dies down a little bit.

ButteMT61 · Dec 23, 2013

My dad grew up in Niehart Montana. One winter a classmate didn't show up to school. They sent a crew out to look for him and he was found later in the day frozen to death in a snow drift. I reckon most of us don't know much about that level of hardship. That's the way he grew up. I'm
pretty lucky I get to enjoy cold weather without that sort of worry. He said many of them had no winter jackets as they were all extremely poor.

Dumpster Diver · Dec 23, 2013

Woah! holy Jesus!

Stearmen · Dec 23, 2013

ButteMT61 said:
My dad grew up in Niehart Montana. One winter a classmate didn't show up to school. They sent a crew out to look for him and he was found later in the day frozen to death in a snow drift. I reckon most of us don't know much about that level of hardship. That's the way he grew up. I'm
pretty lucky I get to enjoy cold weather without that sort of worry. He said many of them had no winter jackets as they were all extremely poor.

I guise my mother was lucky, growing up in Iowa. When it got that cold, my Grandfather would hook the Clydesdales up to the slay, and go and get the girls from school. Wish I could have seen and heard that, slaybells and all!

Corky · Dec 23, 2013

The thermometer read 65 degrees below zero on the day when I got married...

...or as one might say, it was a Cold Day in Hell.

Dumpster Diver · Dec 23, 2013

I think you mean he hooked them up to the Sleigh...:eusa_doh:

HoosierDaddy · Dec 23, 2013

...I guess.

Mark Ricketts · Dec 23, 2013

No, slay the Clydesdales, eat well all winter and have D.I.Y. horsehide.

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