It already has, Faron. All the way down here in Texas, - even on our local news channels - they're talking about your frigid conditions. I fear for those who are on the streets in these conditions, and I understand the authorities are doing everything within their power to try to get people indoors. In some of the big cities (Chicago, for instance), that is no small feat.

That is freakin' cold!!!! Nostrils sticking to the nose cold. So sorry you're all dealing with this.

It's crazy, dangerously cold and nothing (not just people) is meant to operate efficiently if at all in those temperatures. Chicago is used to cold but not these extremes and houses were not built for this, even new ones with efficient insulation. Furnaces are not sized for this and houses will not be able to hold temperature even as they run constantly trying to maintain. Schools are closed where we used to live in suburban Chicago although they are asking staff to attempt to get in to work which I find horribly irresponsible. Cars do not want to run in those temps - what happens to the teacher with a stalled car? Who is responsible for towing fees (if towing is available) and lets not even think about the physical danger.

Yes it has made the news...yesterday they were saying it will be warmer at the south pole than in Chicago. Brrr!

It's 3 ABOVE @ O'Hare now!

Fargo now -20F.

I just got back from a quick Root-Canal fill appt!

And to think.......on Sat Jan 5th, I was on the field at Toyota Stadium in Frisco/Dallas celebrating with all the Bison!!

>>>>> Temp was 72!!!!!

Now.....it's NINETY-TWO deg colder than that day!!!!! THAT'S an "Uffda"! ;-)

Faron

Here's a screenshot from a local tv-weather station:

You just can't go out in those temps. :(

As an aside, your Fahrenheit temps still drive me batty. Gah. :P

Times like this make me think the $100 I paid for my CL mink coat was the best $100 I ever spent. Not spending any unnecessary time outdoors but it’s keeping me completely warm coming and going from work, grocery store, etc.

-35F = -37C according to my converter app. Is that right?

Lol!

Doesn’t sound so bad to me! It was -16 degrees here a week ago Sunday, with a wind chill of -40. These type of temperatures are not uncommon here in the high peaks of the Adirondacks. I don’t mind the -0 temps so much, as long as the wind is still. When that wind starts blowing, then it really IS painful to be outside.

Poor Faron. Do you have a big puffy coat and all of the outside-wear accessories for when you have to go out?

I've got a 20y/old Columbia double-coat. Damn that thing is WARM! I can't bear to toss it, even tho' DW would LOVE to!!! I can take off the lighter "outer" jacket. Together, it's a very warm system!

I believe at -40F..... Celsius & F are equal?!?!

Faron

There are reasons I don't live in the North. ***brrrrrrr***

Well.....gotta get ready for work! Uffda! Thank God for remote- starters!!!!

Faron

DD used to live in Madison. 2 years ago she moved to GA. Last night I looked at the weather for Madison and tomorrow with windchill is colder than any time in the 12 years she lived there.

Madison was lovely but right now she's glad she moved.

We were there when there was another cold blast-for Christmas 2013. My son-in-law told the kids (then twin 6 y/o's) that they had to wait to go ice skating until it "warmed up to zero."

My daughter just texted that Univ of Wisconsin-Madison just cancelled classes from tonight at 5 till Thursday at noon. She is so happy!

3Katz I inherited a sheared racoon coat, 50s swing style, from a great aunt. It is the warmest thing I have ever owned and I've had lots of warm Minnesota weather coats. However I can't wear it in my politically correct area without scornful looks and outright criticism. Yes, this has happened. So I wear it when I take out the garbage on -35 degree days like today :)

@Faron - I like the term "ridiculous cold" - ridiculous must be a new weather term.

I'm on the west coast so we never see weather like that but eastern Canada is suffering with these cold temperatures as well.

Ugh. You and others up north are stronger than I, Faron. I do not go out when the temps are in the single digits or wind chill in the below 0 degrees range. Even the pups don't last long outside!

We were talking at the office today about how some people are speculating that we'll close the office tomorrow. We won't be doing that. We have plenty of flexibility such that if someone's car won't start or for some other reason is at risk of freezing outside they can call and let their manager know they won't be coming in. I'm amazed that anyone would think we'll shut the whole office down when 99% of us are quite capable of getting to work when it's 30 below.

Then we talked about how school was never closed back in the day because of cold temps - only due to snow and impassable roads. I lived in the country through 6th grade and we bundled up and waited for the bus no matter how cold it was. It wasn't a problem or hardship. I went to college in Duluth and Minneapolis - never closed due to cold temperature and when I was young we had a lot of snow and a lot of very cold weather unlike recent times. It creates significant complications for working parents whose kids are suddenly home from school for 3-4 days in one week.

Okay off my soapbox now.

My son lives in Sioux Falls SD and I live in SW FL. We too are having a chilly day 62 but sunny. All the tourists have on hats and gloves!!

Yes, Faron, -40F and -40C is the crossover. Either way, it's very bad. I'm so sorry, please stay warm. The coldest place I've been in the world is the upper midwest, even worse than Finland near the Arctic Circle (that was downright tropical).

(Today's weather will be 65F at my location, so a jacket is still required).

If it makes you feel any warmer in Alaska they don’t close school unless it’s -50 air temp.

We had a "State-of-Emergency" declared here for snow Tuesday.Up to 4 inches. Now granted we don't usually get snow and there isn't really any snow removal equipment. We have a dump truck with sand with a plow on the front. Schools shut down. Grocery stores were packed with people stocking up Monday.

https://www.al.com/life/2019/01/alabama-meteorologist-issues-apology-when-snow-doesnt-materialize.html

Ah yes the old bread and milk routine...

On my lunch now. Actual temp now -24F. It's windy here too! Wind-chill @ -56F. Some businesses are closing at 5 I here. We're a Hardware store! Highly doubtful we'll close?!

Faron

Yes....THIS kinda cold will KILL you...FAST....if you're a dumbass! Respect it, & you'll usually be fine.

Faron

Oh my gosh — “ridiculous cold”. That is waaaay too cold for me. I can’t stand seeing the word bitter in the forecast, but ridiculous would make me crumble.

Currently minus 17 air temp - looked out the window of my office and saw a few people riding their bikes home from work (after a six inch snow fall yesterday). Yes we are hearty people here in MN (and ND).

It was -53 at lunch time in Fargo. My mom schlepped to NDSU to meet up with a friend for a Scandinavian buffet. No friend. NO Buffet. HEY MOM WHEN NDSU closes STAY HOME!! She is 84. Faron is fine.

Holy moly- that wind is something else!! Stopped to pick something up on the way home and it’s crazy cold out in the wind. Times like this make me wonder how early settlers survived this stuff without all our modern comforts.

-27 F (-33 C) here today and everyone just carries on as normal - ridiculous is right. At least our wind was relatively calm.

I think of Shackleton's crew, and am amazed at their survival!

They just announced on the news that the US mail will postpone delivery in the worst hit states. I don't think they've ever stopped the mail before for cold...

bpOS-

I THINK his crew had some Samoyeds????

-28F actual now in Fargo. Winds are a little lighter now, so WC isn't too bad @ -52F. Started my car a few times this evening.

I'm not sure THIS Sammy would've been on one of those treks however! ;-) Couple days ago, Callie was curled-up on DD's bed!

Faron

Currently 55 this morning in SW FL and our heat is on.... sometimes cold is cold wherever you are. We do love winters in FL, it will warm up to 61 today.

Stop it Frank!!!! ;-)

MINUS 33F actual now in Fargo. Not too far N & NE of here......I see a couple 40 BELOW actual temps.

Dear. God......

Well, better get ready for work soon!

Faron

We're north of you, but at the same temp. Thankfully, no windchill. I honestly think it is irresponsible not to close the schools, but I'm not in charge. At least they have cancelled the school buses.

Faron, have you noticed how sound is affected in this cold? Last night there was a crazy loud sound outside and then I realized it was an airplane. As it got closer, it sounded as if it was going to fly right into our house and we are not on usual flight paths.

Faron, front page rolling list of coldest temps in the Washington Post this morning includes Fargo ND :)

Faron, I am actually a native Texas girl, born and raised in Dallas! It is hard to live any further north..... so SW FL is just perfect. gina

Washington Post had a front page article yesterday and today about the polar vortex, the expected temps (wind chill brings it to -55 in some areas) and the number of people expected to be affected. Yeah, everybody is paying attention. That's cold!

Hey!!!! We're up to -20F now!!! That may be today's HIGH!!!! :-)

Faron

Minus 19 in Minneapolis - it's not terribly bad until you get out in the wind. I have to stop at the grocery store tonight after work and a bunch of them are closing early!

Pinceton MN, N of you, had an interruption of nat-gas last night. An Xcel area rep was in here this am wondering if they could get 1,500 space heaters!!!!