The Temperature Just Keeps on Fallin’

We have had record snowfall this year (more than 20″) and near-record low temperatures. Even so, the next two days are going to be the coldest of the winter so far. Tonight’s temperature is expected to fall to about -10, with the wind chill down to -20.

There’s no way you can adjust to temperatures like that. Even the locals are shaking their heads.

Violet, Pilot, P-Pie

Violet finding a way to stay warm during our cold snap

-6 and Falling

That’s the temperature tonight. And with the strong breeze, the wind chill is down to -25. So I went outside to see what it was like. These are the coldest temperatures I’ve experienced since I was a kid in Anchorage, Alaska.

I bundled up, of course: heavy jacket, scarf, knit hat, gloves. It was clear outside, with a crescent moon. Beautiful, really. Still, I noticed right away that although my upper body was well protected, the cold came right through my jeans almost like I wasn’t wearing any. And as I stood there breathing in the cold air, I could feel it in my mouth and part way down my throat before my body heat warmed it.

From the dark forest came weird cracking, crackling noises. Tree branches giving way in the extreme cold? Some sort of night critter out there causing things to shift around? I couldn’t tell.

I came back inside and put another log on the fire. Nice to have that option in weather like this.

Brrrrr!

Our bird feeders after the recent snowstorm

Some very cold weather is moving in. The National Weather Service is using phrases like “life threatening” and “coldest temperatures in 20 years.” The high on Monday is predicted to be -1, with the wind chill pushing that temperature down another 10 degrees or so. Tuesday will be almost as bad before we see warming into the very-welcome mid-30s on Wednesday.

This will be the coldest weather we’ve seen since moving here from southern California more than three years ago. Still, around the house and yard, even Canada-worthy temperatures like this can be managed, and comfortably so, with the proper wardrobe – gloves, scarves, heavy jackets, insulated boots and so forth.

It’s a lot dicier when you drive somewhere, though. You could spin out, or get stuck in a traffic jam caused by someone else who spun out. And that could mean a lengthy chunk of time exposed to the elements. So you have to drive with extreme care and be sure to carry emergency supplies like water, windshield scrapers, knit hats and the like. And hope for the best.