Weather WTF

[Caliga]

It's 12 F here right now & sunny.

GRRR. Montreal warmer than Louisville?  This must be a conspiracy of some sort.

[Grey Fox]

It's 12 F here right now & sunny.

GRRR. Montreal warmer than Louisville?  This must be a conspiracy of some sort.

The conspiracy of shredding arctic sea ice, yes.

[Caliga]

No global warming because it's really cold today!

Anyway, by this weekend it'll be in the 60s here again.

[KRonn]

Going to get cold here in the Northeast but not as bad as in the Mid West. That is brutal what you have there.

[Caliga]

Our Chicago office is essentially closed because people can't get out of their driveways, trains aren't running, etc.

One of my co-workers up there saw on the news that, if you have to go outside, you should try not to breathe in deeply because your lungs might freeze.

[Malthus]

Our Chicago office is essentially closed because people can't get out of their driveways, trains aren't running, etc.

One of my co-workers up there saw on the news that, if you have to go outside, you should try not to breathe in deeply because your lungs might freeze.

Considering I've been skiing when it was -30C, and my lungs survived, I severely doubt that. 

Apparently, it is bullshit: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/will-i-freeze-my-lungs-by-exercising-outside-in-the-cold/article1067389/

[Caliga]

Yeah, I thought it sounded ridiculous.  I mean, Inuit aren't all dead?

[derspiess]

I mean you can breathe deep but not *too* deep.  That's what'll kill ya.

[Tamas]

Yeah I guess if you make an effort in breathing down as big a gulp of -46C air as you can, that can't be good for your lungs.

[Barrister]

Yeah I guess if you make an effort in breathing down as big a gulp of -46C air as you can, that can't be good for your lungs.

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend doing vigorous exercise in that kind of cold, but otherwise you should be fine.  It's funny how weather works though.  While the mid-west is experiencing this polar vortex, it's a relatively pleasant -6 in Edmonton.

[KRonn]

Barrister, you must get this brutal cold a lot in winter, or perhaps a bit north of where you are. What precautions do people have to take? Such as with their cars, battery, oil, etc. Engine/oil warmers and other stuff. Things break in such cold weather.

[Savonarola]

Do you breathe on them?

In Chicago they've set fire to them. 

In fact they have gas lines to keep the switch machines from freezing; but seeing open flames on the switch points is fascinating.

[Barrister]

Barrister, you must get this brutal cold a lot in winter, or perhaps a bit north of where you are. What precautions do people have to take? Such as with their cars, battery, oil, etc. Engine/oil warmers and other stuff. Things break in such cold weather.

Well for starters all vehicles sold here have block heaters.  You plug them in and it keeps your engine block warm enough so the oil doesn't solidify.  Some people just keep their vehicles running (though not at all recommended due to obvious vehicle theft concerns).  Big 18 wheel tractor trailers you'll often see running 24/7, since starting a big diesel once the engine gets cold is apparently quite difficult.  If I can't plug in my vehicle in extreme cold I'll run out and start it every few hours.

You don't see it as much now, but people used to put cardboard in front of the engine radiator, to prevent the engine from being overly cooled with rushing cold air towards it.

[PDH]

I do not miss working outdoors in -40 weather.  Laramie used to get that a couple of times a year.

[Valmy]

I do not miss working outdoors in -40 weather.  Laramie used to get that a couple of times a year.

Even worse, he would get a sunburn while doing so. At least it was a dry cold.