olmue: (Default)
olmue ([personal profile] olmue) wrote2011-02-02 10:10 am

Cold

The good news is, we were not in the blizzard path. The bad news is, it's -20F (real temperature; the windchill factor is -31.)

This is what we're been driving on since the week before Thanksgiving, sometimes with a topping of snow and sometimes polished to this lovely, smooth sheen:

ice

It's like, Little House on the Ice Floe or something.

School has been canceled today due to the temperature, although DH still had to go to work. Fun things to see as you're driving out in this kind of cold: the exhaust from household dryers turns to steam--and then instant ice--outside, making interesting patterns on the sides of buildings. Pedestrians wearing ski masks have frost "beards" from their breathing/condensation. And people going to the grocery store leave their motors on when they go inside for fear they won't be able to get their cars started when they come out. (I stopped at the store but turned my car off. Everything was fine, luckily.)

Happy winter! And if you are having blizzard fun, stay inside and stay warm!

[identity profile] newport2newport.livejournal.com 2011-02-02 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Brr...and yikes! I hate being cold, and I'm a'skeered of driving on ice-slicked roads!

Still, that's a beautiful photo!

Stay safe. I'm sending warm thoughts your way...

[identity profile] olmue.livejournal.com 2011-02-02 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Having just driven out again today... I'd say that there is a difference between an icy road at 0 and an icy road at 31. Right now it's more like driving on glass. At 31, it's more like driving on grease.

I'm afraid of driving in winter conditions, too, but it's been so long since we've seen anything different than when I DO get to drive on cleared asphalt...wow. Traction! What a concept! (We don't do road trips in the winter, though! This is all strictly in 20mph zones to the grocery store and back...)