What's the coldest temperature you've ever experienced where you live?

Question

I live in Minnesota, so it gets pretty cold here (though, granted, only in comparison to some other places). I think the coldest temperature I've ever experienced is around sixty degrees below zero (fahrenheit). Now, I know all you Siberians out there are thinking "Sixty below? Psh...that's not cold, that's bikini weather," but, well, that's what we call cold. It's actually kind of refreshing at first when you first step outside (and it wakes you up pretty damn quick!) but after awhile it starts to feel a bit like you've been slapped in the face, and your extremities start to feel numb.

It's your turn...how cold has it gotten where you live? And how did it feel?

More Minnesotans, hooray! I'll email you guys privately about where I'm from and stuff, as I don't want to clutter up this board with too much chat.

Wow...I kind of posted this question on a whim (seeing as it's really hot out right now and I thought I'd take our minds off of the heat for a bit), but some of these stories have turned out more interesting than I thought! Just a couple anecdotes, for your amusement:

I remember once in eighth grade it got so cold that my (somewhat eccentric) earth science teacher made the suggestion that we boil water and throw it outside to see how much of it would hit the ground, and how much of it would just vaporize. I think about ten percent of it actually stayed liquid when it hit the ground.

Also, sometimes it gets so cold that A) if you walk outside with wet hair, your hair freezes and turns to virtual icicles that make an audible snapping sound when bent, and B) your snot freezes (your nostrils get all sticky when you inhale). When I told a few people I met from the deep south about the latter, they literally didn't believe me.

professional student: Well, be as skeptical as you like, but I saw it with my own eyes. It probably vaporized that quickly because of the suddenness in which the water (which was boiling) was thrust into the cold atmosphere. If you do something like that more gradually, then less of it would vaporize. I may have been exaggerating on the 10% bit...it was probably more like 30%...but most of the water did vaporize before it hit the ground.

Answer 1

I live in SE MN and I have pics of my thermometer reading 60 F below...and I have no idea what the windchill was. But I had to go out and shovel the darn thing clear and MAN WAS THAT COLD!

I went to college in northern MN, and while I never had a thermometer, I remember walking from dorm to campus and had icicles hanging down my back many a time. Was funny to know who lived in the campus buildings and who had to go out in the elements...those that didn't brave the weather wore jammies and slippers to class, those who walked had wet backs and carried outer gear that weighed as much as our books! I also didn't have a car, so I walked a mile into town to the grocery store and carried my groceries a mile back...in the cold, in the snow...I bet I was a sight bundled in all that gear, couldn't have recognized me unless you knew what I wore because my scarf and hat covered all my head but my eyes, then there were turtlenecks and sweaters under my coat and I wore 2 pairs of jeans over 2 pairs of thermal undies and my feet cramped by the time I got to the store because my boots were too small for 2 or 3 pairs of socks! LOL

Then there was the time so many parents called the highschool I attended to tell them to close so their kids wouldn't technically be deliquent because it was so cold AND had a 60 degree windchill...they wouldn't close the school though, and when my brother and I didn't show up, they called to find us. My mother told them in no uncertain terms that her children were NOT going to school that day. LOL

Answer 2

7 F was the coldest I've experienced. I'm in Albuquerque NM though so it is pretty rare that it gets very cold.

I ride a scooter throughout the winter, and a few years ago it got into the teens, and ouch that was tough riding in, but nothing compared to the stories others have posted.

I'm skeptical about your story with throwing water outside and having it freeze before it hits the ground though. I've put water in liquid Nitrogen at -320F, and even in that it takes a while to freeze, though liquid Nitrogen has a low specific heat.

On the other hand, the hottest weather I've been in was 107... but still that isn't so bad compared to say, Baghdad.

Answer 3

I am Canadian, and have lots of experience with the cold, but nearly as much as you might think. i only consider it really cold if my van doesn't start. I only wear a coat at -20 or so.

I remember about 15 years ago, I was living in Regina Saskatchewan.

It was -40 something, -76 below with the wind chill.

The chrome colored plastic handle on my crappy dodge omni broke off in my hand. Crawling in from the passenger side, I shattered the rubber floor mats like they were glass. They even made that tinkling sound. The plastic moldings around door frame similarly shattered. Funny thing, the car started on about the fifth try.

Funnier thing, I actually went to work.

Answer 4

I once had to go outside in the middle of the night in about 26 degrees (I'm in Florida). I almost froze! It didn't help that all I had on was a tank top, sweatshirt and tights.

Answer 5

relies upon the place in Florida. There are large aspects freed from all ailments you have defined. yet having reported that, that's problematic to locate a activity so which you would be wanting a solid training. the cost of residing is nowhere close to as undesirable while in comparison with San Francisco. We do have various rednecks and previous human beings nonetheless. yet then there are beautiful women everywhere...

Answer 6

When I was in Chicago it was -7 degrees F. and with wind chill -45 degrees F. But I was prepared. I had one a ski mask with hood pulled up, gloves two sweaters sweat pants over jeans. In Virginia after work one day it was colder than I had anticipated and maybe only 0 but I was ill-prepared for it so it felt a million times worse, though it wasn't technically as cold on a thermometer.

Answer 7

I misremember the exact temperature, but during the winter months in Wyoming, it got so cold that our principal would let the seniors go to the parking lot and start our cars every hour so we could go home at the end of the day. Made for a cold and education free day. I don't a battery-powered car would have survived...

Answer 8

I live in the Twin Cities area and I've seen temps get below 40 degrees below zero and 95 above in the same year.

Answer 9

Who knows... maybe about -30 Celcius without factoring in the winds. Anything below about -15 Celcius is already very cold (at least for most people). I live in Toronto, Canada BTW.

Answer 10

I used to live in Duluth, Minnesota years ago.
I've been in 75-80 below weather there. The snow gets like a dry powder, you can't get wet in it.
Have you ever gone "crimping" in the winter?
You can write back on my e-mail, if you wish.

p.s. I got your e-mail, but it wouldn't let me reply just yet - said you hadn't been confirmed.
So, fear not, I will try again later.