I saw an image of the "polar air" over North America at Accuweather last night. :shock::?: Feel for you guys, especially in the South where you're not used to it nor prepared for it!
We have full crews employed with snowplows and trucks full of sand/salt mix to make it possible to drive in the winter.
The advice to stay home and don't drive anywhere is 100% correct!
Also, what some folks may not know - the road salt is not effective below a certain temperature. If we have icy conditions with temperatures below about -8 C road safety measures don't work so well. So even for those who are used to and prepared for winter, road safety deteriorates in a "polar cold" situation. :o

I was prepared and use to it.
Can't count how many times we had to bring a new born calf into the house to warm up in zero weather in the middle of the night.
The last time it was sub zerof one in the morning and I drug the mom and the baby on a sheet of plywood with an open tractor in sleet and high wind.
17 years old.
Sounds like a wild story but it's true.
Worth

Worth. Totally beleive you. A friend got hit hard in the midwest some years ago loosing a number of calves due to extreme weather. Me personally, have had a lamb or 2 running around the kitchen. THe last two were booted out of the house when the littlest jumped out of crate, on my chair, over top of PC and landed on me sleeping on the couch.LOL Time to move out of the house, lol

[QUOTE=Worth1;678560]I was prepared and use to it.
Can't count how many times we had to bring a new born calf into the house to warm up in zero weather in the middle of the night.
The last time it was sub zerof one in the morning and I drug the mom and the baby on a sheet of plywood with an open tractor in sleet and high wind.
17 years old.
Sounds like a wild story but it's true.
Worth[/QUOTE]

LOL, reminds me of one time I had to crawl over ice on all fours with a pan of fresh water to bring to the dog, in 70 kph winds. Only about 80 feet all told round trip, but when I got back in the house I called work and said I will not be in for the day. :| Day OVER. :twisted::?:

It was 13F at DFW airport this morning. 8F here at the house. The car doors were frozen shut. Not a record by far, but still burr.

[QUOTE=bower;678556]... Also, what some folks may not know - the road salt is not effective below a certain temperature. If we have icy conditions with temperatures below about -8 C road safety measures don't work so well. [/QUOTE]

Around town here we have trucks that spray some kind of (alcohol?) mixture at times of very cold weather. Looks weird to have wet surfaces in such cold.

Beet juice and cheese brine are two things added to rock salt to increase its effectiveness in cold weather.
[URL]http://time.com/5761/salt-shortage-triggers-beet-juice-cheese-brine-alternatives/[/URL]
Dutch

[QUOTE=Dutch;678623]Beet juice and cheese brine are two things added to rock salt to increase its effectiveness in cold weather.
[URL]http://time.com/5761/salt-shortage-triggers-beet-juice-cheese-brine-alternatives/[/URL]
Dutch[/QUOTE]

Freaky! Clever moves. :yes:8-)

We went grocery shopping at the local HEB store. They are sold out of their brand of milk, creamer, and butter. A sign says on the milk cooler - "Temporarily out of stock." Trucks are having problems getting the product up here because of the cold weather/ice.

Such odd storms we have had to be so much colder so far South.
It isn't wimpy at all. We are so much better prepared up North. I heard
the salt truck at 2am, then the plows kept up and roads are clear. 30º and
just 3 inches of snow. Maybe drop to 15º tonight. Hit the 50's this weekend.

Much worse when I lived in NewOrleans in cold temps with no insulation, pipes
running outside homes, cracks in our floor boards showing the soil beneath.
Wimpy gas heaters. Never been so cold. (..and so darn hot/humid in the summer
where a simple candle would bend and droop)

Here I have a heated Milwaukee vest and two battery packs. A CanadaGoose coat
for Arctic climates and they hand out foot and hand warmers like penny candy at
work. At home two boilers, back-up generator, dry wood and a fireplace for a
second-second back-up....snow tires. Cars running off the road left and right but
My Mini has no trouble.

As long as the home is warm a bit of snow is lovely. More than 3"
can be a nightmare. No need to shovel at all with warmer temps
on the way. Fingers crossed...

Oakley, very nice picture. Belongs in the "black and white" thread.

11°f on the way home from church tonight. brrr!

So cold in the house the butter wont get soft.:evil:
Worth

[QUOTE=oakley;678632]Such odd storms we have had to be so much colder so far South.
It isn't wimpy at all. We are so much better prepared up North. I heard
the salt truck at 2am, then the plows kept up and roads are clear. 30º and
just 3 inches of snow. Maybe drop to 15º tonight. Hit the 50's this weekend.

Much worse when I lived in NewOrleans in cold temps with no insulation, pipes
running outside homes, cracks in our floor boards showing the soil beneath.
Wimpy gas heaters. Never been so cold. (..and so darn hot/humid in the summer
where a simple candle would bend and droop)

Here I have a heated Milwaukee vest and two battery packs. A CanadaGoose coat
for Arctic climates and they hand out foot and hand warmers like penny candy at
work. At home two boilers, back-up generator, dry wood and a fireplace for a
second-second back-up....snow tires. Cars running off the road left and right but
My Mini has no trouble.

As long as the home is warm a bit of snow is lovely. More than 3"
can be a nightmare. No need to shovel at all with warmer temps
on the way. Fingers crossed...[/QUOTE]

This cold spell has reminded me of the places that need fixing in our drafty house.

I just saw today om the noon news that 24 years ago today was the coldest on record for here. -20°f. and I don't remember it. how astounding. every winter is the coldest to me. it is like child birth... once its over it is a vague memory.