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Are You Ready For The Super Deep Freeze?

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Are You Ready For The Super Deep Freeze?

Old 01-05-14, 01:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Roody
I live well inland in Lansing, and we get some lake effect snow, but only about 50 inches a year.
Having grown up in Lake Effect Country (southwest Michigan), every other place has seemed awfully dry. I was surprised by how little snow (comparatively) there was in Lansing. Denver had some good snows, but it melts pretty quickly. Western Wisconsin apparently set some kind of snowfall record in December, but there wasn't much snow at all. I like the winter sunshine though - even if it means less snow and colder temperatures.
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Old 01-05-14, 06:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Roody
The last time it was this cold and windy, I think in 2007, I was walking across a parking lot. A crow flying across the lot was literally blown out of the sky by the howling wind. He landed on a big chunk of ice about two feet ahead of me. Like me, the feathers on his face (whiskers in my case) were crusted in ice. I think we were equally surprised to see the other one there, when no other creatures were out and about. Of course, being a bird, he was embarrassed to fall out of the sky. He tried to play it off, like, I meant to do that. I said aloud to him, I hope your beak is no colder than mine is! I swear to god he looked me right in the eye and laughed.
I saw the exact same thing in a Hitchcock movie... I think it was "The Bird"
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Old 01-05-14, 07:10 AM
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Since I wrote my last thread, I think about four hours ago, we got at least six inches of snow. I just got home from working the midnight shift. A co-worker gave me a ride home. She was carfree until about a month or two ago. Now she has one of those small crossover SUVs. She has lived in Michigan all her life, but never drove in snow until this winter. She was a little apprehensive about the drive, and frankly so was I. But it's just a couple blocks (for me) and it went well. I hope she makes it home safely too.
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Old 01-05-14, 01:59 PM
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Looks like the same old weather here -

As I recall from the training I received in Junior High, it is not cold unless your spit freezes BEFORE it hits the ground.
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Old 01-05-14, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
Since I wrote my last thread, I think about four hours ago, we got at least six inches of snow. I just got home from working the midnight shift. A co-worker gave me a ride home. She was carfree until about a month or two ago. Now she has one of those small crossover SUVs. She has lived in Michigan all her life, but never drove in snow until this winter. She was a little apprehensive about the drive, and frankly so was I. But it's just a couple blocks (for me) and it went well. I hope she makes it home safely too.
I am very appreciative of the Nokian winter tyres on our little Sentra... the car will go pretty much anywhere in any kind of weather.
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Old 01-05-14, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
I am very appreciative of the Nokian winter tyres on our little Sentra... the car will go pretty much anywhere in any kind of weather.
I don't think she knows what kind of tires she has. In fact, I asked her if it was four wheel drive and she didn't even know that. Like I said, she was a carfree cyclist until about a month ago! A while back there were three carfree people in my department. Now one owns a car, I myself am carlight, and only Kathy P. is soldiering on with the carfree lifestyle.
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Old 01-05-14, 03:31 PM
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We are looking for a high temp of -14F for the next 48 hours, with wind chills in the -50sF ....... Gotta remember my warm gloves.................
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Old 01-05-14, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
I don't think she knows what kind of tires she has. In fact, I asked her if it was four wheel drive and she didn't even know that. Like I said, she was a carfree cyclist until about a month ago! A while back there were three carfree people in my department. Now one owns a car, I myself am carlight, and only Kathy P. is soldiering on with the carfree lifestyle.
Tell me about it. I can feel your winter pain. I took the new MTB out for a ride Saturday morning and couldn't take the arm warmers off till 10am. (Sorry I couldn't resist.)
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Old 01-05-14, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Smallwheels
Are you ready for the super deep freeze? Dangerous cold weather is headed toward the middle of the country eastward. I've been out in minus twenty degree weather for a brief time. I stepped outside into minus twenty-two degree weather once just to experience it. Depending on where you are you might experience minus thirty degree temperatures in the next few days.

Go to the store now and buy candles, heating oil, propane, and some catalytic heaters if you can find them. You're lucky if you have a wood stove in these areas. Usually when it gets that cold in the Northeast power lines will snap when lots of trees collapse onto them. It also depends on how much snow comes with this system.

https://iceagenow.info/2014/01/histor...united-states/

Be careful.
I think you are over exaggerating a bit. It is going to be very very cold,,it will last about a day,,,anyone can survive a day or 2 in there houses without hoarding every thing.

I live in michigan it is expected to fall a couple degrees below zero, I didnt run out and buy anything lol. I already have long johns lol.
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Old 01-05-14, 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by howeeee
I think you are over exaggerating a bit. It is going to be very very cold,,it will last about a day,,,anyone can survive a day or 2 in there houses without hoarding every thing.

I live in michigan it is expected to fall a couple degrees below zero, I didnt run out and buy anything lol. I already have long johns lol.
I hope you have enough vital supplies to last a couple days, because it might not be possible to go to the store tomorrow. I'm glad I have a Riteaid a couple blocks away in case I have an emergency need. If I had to, I could walk three or four miles, but I sure don't plan on it for the next 48 hours. And I haven't taken my long johns off since 12-1-13, except to shower.

The people who will really hurt are those who rely on cars for transportation. We now have a snow emergency in effect in Lansing, making it illegal to drive a car until Tuesday, except for emergencies. It's the first time we've had one of those in years. And we just got over a Christmas ice storm that left half the city without power for a week.

Everybody check to make sure your neighbors are ok, especially the elderly and those with kids. My grandson helped a neighbor shovel, and my son pushed some guy's truck down the block.
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Old 01-05-14, 08:44 PM
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My city was supposed to miss the big part of this because it was on the edge of the system. Apparently the forecasters got it wrong again. Today the temperature was about one or two degrees this afternoon. Now it is minus five at 7:40 P.M. and the overnight low is supposed to be minus 19. Yesterday they said that the temperature on Monday would be 33. Now they've got it at just 16. I didn't go to the grocery store on Saturday because the temperature was about 15 and Monday was supposed to be warm. Now I'll have to wait another day or two. I can do it but I'll really miss having all of my favorite foods handy. I don't store a lot of stuff due to not being able to carry a ton of stuff on my bicycle. The only good thing about this is that Montana is prepared for such temperatures and they aren't that unusual.
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Old 01-05-14, 09:01 PM
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This past week it was minus 25 Celsius ( -14 F ). The ice storm we had 2 weeks ago around christmass time did a lot of damage and thousand of people were left without power for many days. Studded tires are a must have item, and I wouldn't want to ride without them.

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Old 01-05-14, 09:30 PM
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Well, it forgot to snow here, but we should have a high of 19 tomorrow. Nipping cold, but nothing to stop schools or businesses. I should get out a little just to test my cold weather gear.
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Old 01-05-14, 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by loky1179
Looks like the same old weather here -

As I recall from the training I received in Junior High, it is not cold unless your spit freezes BEFORE it hits the ground.
Nothing like peeing ice...
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Old 01-05-14, 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
Nothing like peeing ice...
Not to change the topic, but how's the Pugsley working in the snow?
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Old 01-05-14, 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
Not to change the topic, but how's the Pugsley working in the snow?
I sold it to my friend 2-3 weeks ago... he LOVES it.

I will be building up a recumbent trike in the spring and it will be set up for winter and off road adventuring... have been enjoying my newly built fixed gear Raleigh a great deal and my Extrabike is still about as good an all round winter bike as I have ever owned.
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Old 01-06-14, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Artkansas
Well, it forgot to snow here, but we should have a high of 19 tomorrow. Nipping cold, but nothing to stop schools or businesses. I should get out a little just to test my cold weather gear.
Sounds like a great adventure. 19F here is often great for riding... too cold for black ice... normally sunny. Two pairs of wool socks and pack a pair of long pants in case the MTB shorts are too flappy in the wind.
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Old 01-06-14, 03:16 PM
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My city is not carfree yet. The mayor and sheriff banned non-essential driving, but I see quite a few cars out there. My DIL was getting ready to drive to the store for milk and dish soap, but I stopped her. I said I would walk to the nearby RiteAid instead.

Somehow I feel it's safer to walk than drive in this weather, with the snow and very cold winds. Most people think I'm crazy, but there you have it. I could just picture her stranded in the car, waiting hours for the over extended tow truck service to get around to her. At least when walking, I'm not at the mercy of a machine.
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Old 01-06-14, 03:27 PM
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The things that have been a great help for winter walking have been Yak Trax and Katoolah mini spikes. The minispikes are great when everything is coated with thick ice. They are like little crampons. Ski poles or trekking poles are also a great help.
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Old 01-06-14, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by gerv
Sounds like a great adventure. 19F here is often great for riding... too cold for black ice... normally sunny. Two pairs of wool socks and pack a pair of long pants in case the MTB shorts are too flappy in the wind.
Black ice forms at colder temperatures via condensation of car exhaust... 19F is actually a little warm for that to happen.
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Old 01-06-14, 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
Black ice forms at colder temperatures via condensation of car exhaust... 19F is actually a little warm for that to happen.
Ok according to this article, it is also formed at warmer temps:
The American Meteorological Society Glossary of Meteorology includes the definition of black ice as "a thin sheet of ice, relatively dark in appearance, [that] may form when light rain or drizzle falls on a road surface that is at a temperature below 0 °C.
However, it goes on to say:
At low temperatures (below –18 °C), black ice can form on roadways when the moisture from automobile exhaust condenses on the road surface.[4] Such conditions caused multiple accidents in Minnesota when the temperatures dipped below –18 °C for a prolonged period of time in mid-December 2008.[5] Salt's ineffectiveness at melting ice at these temperatures compounds the problem.[6]
19F is between these zones, so may explain why I feel so cavalier about riding then.
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Old 01-06-14, 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
Somehow I feel it's safer to walk than drive in this weather, with the snow and very cold winds. Most people think I'm crazy, but there you have it. I could just picture her stranded in the car, waiting hours for the over extended tow truck service to get around to her. At least when walking, I'm not at the mercy of a machine.
True story. About a week ago, I *drove* to a local x-mart to pick up a large space heater for my frigid apartment (as well as some other bulky items, out of sheer laziness.) At some point, a little plastic part that holds the accessory belt in place snapped off, rendering the car useless. Long story short: it took over three hours for the tow truck to show up, and if I had not reached dispatch at the time I did, it would have been five. At the time, it was 0F and snowy.

So: I agree that walking is safer and often more efficient in winter conditions. It's safer, in part, because if we know we're going to be outside, we dress appropriately. (I think that cycling might even be safer, but it's definitely a personal preference - I have better balance on the bike, I have something to protect my head, and I can use the bike for support if it gets too slippery!)
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Old 01-06-14, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by gerv
Ok according to this article, it is also formed at warmer temps:

However, it goes on to say:

19F is between these zones, so may explain why I feel so cavalier about riding then.
Black ice forms under a number of conditions... lots of people expect it when you get rain on frozen roadways but do not realize that it can also form at colder temperatures... we always joke that if it would only stay at -10 to -12C that our winters would be perfect.
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Old 01-20-14, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Smallwheels
Are you ready for the super deep freeze? Dangerous cold weather is headed toward the middle of the country eastward. I've been out in minus twenty degree weather for a brief time. I stepped outside into minus twenty-two degree weather once just to experience it. Depending on where you are you might experience minus thirty degree temperatures in the next few days.

Go to the store now and buy candles, heating oil, propane, and some catalytic heaters if you can find them. You're lucky if you have a wood stove in these areas. Usually when it gets that cold in the Northeast power lines will snap when lots of trees collapse onto them. It also depends on how much snow comes with this system.

https://iceagenow.info/2014/01/histor...united-states/

Be careful.
I'm from Helena Montana, but I'm so glad I live in SOCAL now you can't beat the weather, to me 65* is freezing.
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Old 01-22-14, 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Profileclimb
I'm from Helena Montana, but I'm so glad I live in SOCAL now you can't beat the weather, to me 65* is freezing.
I'll be moving by spring one way or another. I started my own business recently. If it works I'll earn some money and pack up for a southward move. If it doesn't work I'll pack up and move southward with less stuff so it will be cheaper.

We missed this current cold blast. Everything is to the east of us. The super cold air two weeks ago hit us first. Then it moved Eastward. This past week we've had weather like Denver which means high temperatures in the low forties and upper thirties. That is not common here but I'm loving it. We even had three days with temperatures at fifty or a little higher. I want the remainder of winter to be this way.

At least once a week I look at several cities I have saved in my weather panel on my computer to see just how warm it is elsewhere. I'm envious every time I look at it.
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