How do you people up north live???
 

Tonight we're on a "freeze warning" and we'll be getting plenty of ice.

So everyone is stocking up on groceries, getting things ready for a weekend indoors so they don't have to take on the icy roads.

It seems like when it gets colder than 50 degrees in Texas, our entire world stands still (except of course for the pizza delivery places!).

So my question is - how is it in the northern states? Do you just carry on as normal because you're used to cold weather?

Re: How do you people up north live???
 

Pretty much. Things only really shut down when it's a bad storm: sleet and snow and winds or excessive snow (to the point where the plows can't keep up). Otherwise, you go about your normal day -- just slower and with a lot more layers on.

Pretty much. Right now, it's in the 30's-40's and sunny. Dry and cold. It's supposed to be cold tomorrow and colder at night. But it's not going to stop me from going snowboarding tomorrow.

But we also don't get the ice storms like other places.

Now, when we get snow it's a different story.

But our problems are mostly wind and flooding.......

We have to - we spend most of our months in the cold, so you either adapt or you move someplace warmer.

Honestly, temps in the 20s and 30s are just standard for us in the winter months, and only when it gets into the teens and single digits does it affect us. On top of that, we're used to at least a couple of big snowstorms a year.

It doesn't mean we always like it, but we're used to it.

Re: Re: How do you people up north live???
 

Wind chills below zero here.

Some "fool" accidently turned the heat off on the 5-7 floors of the Register last night. You could see your breath in my office this morning! eeek!

the short answer...is as ISUKappa said....

LAYERS, LAYERS, LAYERS...

I don't consider myself to live in the north, KC- but it is 19 degrees right now. Overnight it will be down to about 0. It is cold. But you get used to the cold-- it is just part of winter.

The only time things really slow down is when we have a forcast for lots of snow, and ice. It is the ice that causes trouble. Generally the first storm of the winter season slows people down, the stores will be full of people and the shelves will be empty-- but nothing usually comes of the storms that keeps you in once it hits.

Just bundle up -- but today I made sure to throw a coat in the car and never even wore it into the office.

We just had a blizzard on Saturday night and Sunday which dumped a NYC record of 26 inches of snow. The weather people announced that the snow would begin at 4:00. When the snow hadn't begun by 6:00, I hoped we had dodged a bullet. When I woke up Sunday morning, it was white out conditions which means there is almost no visibility and all you can see is white snow.

The Department of Sanitation is in charge of snow removal on the streets and highways. They were really the only people driving on the streets in their big trucks. The Mayor and his Commissioners requested that people stay home. If they had to go out to work, they should not drive and should take public transportation. Most people listened and stayed home because that type of weather can be really dangerous. By Monday most of the snow in the city had been removed from the street and sidewalks. Public transportation was running, but it was delayed. NYC is accustomed to this type of weather. There are plans in place so we are really prepared. The only bad thing is the streets filled with slush so I had to jump over or walk through huge puddles.

In 1996 we had about 16 blizzards and snowstorms. I remember they couldn't clear one of the streets in my neighborhood because it had frozen solid with ice. This was a potentially dangerous situation because emergency vehicles could not drive on that street.

I have cousins who lived in Rochester and now lives in Buffalo, NY. They act like two feet of snow is nothing, and it's not cold unless the temperature drops below 0 degrees F. They think that we're wimps.

If it's just cold weather, we do pretty much just carry on as normal. If there is ice and snow, we take precautions. Part of living in the north is knowing that there will be snow and ice at some point during the winter. So you prepare. You put good all-weather tires, if not snow tires, on your car. You make sure you're always well stocked with food and water. You buy a generator in case you lose power.

A few years ago, I was down in Virginia in February. It snowed half an inch, and everyone freaked. Traffic on the interstate was moving at TEN MILES AN HOUR because no one down there knows how to drive in snow. (Which is the right thing to do - if you're not confident in your winter driving skills, slow down and be careful.) Meanwhile, up here the local driving schools offer winter driving lessons on closed, iced-over courses.

My wife is from upstate NY, so she thinks the same way. It takes a lot of snow to get her frazzled.

That's a big reason why I didn't go to Syracuse's school of journalism; I wasn't sure I was ready to be snowed in that many months of the year.

You want me to kill myself, you send me to Rochester in the winter!! Seriously, I went to Buffalo once in the winter, and cried everytime I had to go outdoors!!

We're lucky - it gets cold here, but we never seem to get the brunt of a storm. Oh, it's cold enough to wish we had a few more loaves of bread, soup, and munchies, but mostly, we just gripe about it!

<-- has an Outback & can drive in almost anything!!

That sounds about right. In Dallas/Ft. Worth, we drive that slow if it so much sprinkles.

When it snows or ices, we go waaaaaay slower than 10 MPH.

I remember a couple of yrs ago we got some ice on the roads. My bf at the time was living with me, and the normal 45 minute commute took 6 HOURS.

He got home about midnight

People who live in The North are insane=COOOOLd and Snnnooooow and short summer. Get snowed In and cant drive anywhere.

People who live in the South are crazy=gets a little cool and freeze. If get snow cant drive cause dont have a friggen clue.

Now, In The True Middle of the country, We get it all and can handle it, bitch like hell but that is Us. ICE, now that is a different subject.

Ice should be in Arenas and in glasses!:D

Ya get used to it...

Some snow and cold is the norm during the winter, so it's no biggie to deal with. However some extremes do affect us... like today for example - driving home from the cottage the highway was a disaster - iced over with blowing snow reducing visibility to just about a car length... so I did what most did, pulled off the road and hit a Tim Hortons or somewhere showing the Olympics. 'Course this was nothing compared to what hit Montreal - heard a train got blow over going over a bridge (over water).

Of course the ya get used to anything if that's the enviroment you were raised in - I have no idea how people could deal with it being hot all the time (or no snow at Christmas or New Years)... or how folks on the praries deal with the flat landscape...

Of course You get used to the environ, but I think the rwo hghest suicide States were Az and NM were because it was going to be 120 and sun shining every damn day!:(

Coop, it aint all flat here Bro! Come visit!!!! A few Chapters around here!!!!;)

Oh, wow, 2 right now, was 64 Sat. It has been like this all winter here????:confused:

I live in the south and have no problem driving in the ice. its called 4 wheel drive.

Ummm yeah..... 4 wheel drive gives you the ability to go--- traction.... in snow (or mud) not on ice! Have fun learning that lesson though! :)

It is -13 and feels like -29 here. You just pick up and keep going.

well, I went on many duck hunting trips in north Texas and Oklahoma..........in the snow and ice. (yes it snows a decent amount in Oklahoma).....and my four wheel drive did just fine. And actually 4L is meant for heavy traction. If it gets too bad....I can always put chains on my tires......I think if chains can work on mountainn passes in Colorado they can work for me in Texas............Try again champ

Actually, if you know how to drive in the ice, it's not that hard! Make sure your tires are properly inflated, that your alignment is good, and let 'er rip! My daddy took us up into the mountains, so we could learn how to drive in the ice. That, or he was trying to kill us, with all the ravines, trees, and lakes! Seriously, I think he wanted us to learn in "private" before we were caught up in traffic, panicking.

The biggest problem I have with driving in the ice is the people who DON'T know what to do and panic! That, and having a broken windshield wiper (which happened on Thanksgiving!).

true....i find that people dont know how to break..........also, I asked you a question in the olympics thread

You also have to keep in mind that, because it is common here, we have the equipment and resources to deal with it. When it's going to ice, they start salting our roads before the storm hits. When it's large amounts of snow, the main roads are cleared quickly and our side streets (depending on how good your city is) are done within 24 hours or so. The most we'd ever be stuck at home is a day. Everybody has shovels, snow blowers and bags of salt at home to deal with their driveways and walk ways. My friend who moved to Texas for about 8 years and then came back said that there really is no difference between Texas and Michigan. In both states, you have 3 months out of the year where it's miserable to be outside.. here it's because of cold, there it's because of heat.

very true.....allthough I would much rather be hot than cold.....thats also because I played college baseball and playing in the cold is miserable

We also keep kitty litter in the car - good for traction. AND, I found this spray that you put on your walk & driveway, and it keeps things under control for about 10 days! I got it through Improvements.com - and it's pet friendly!


saetex - asked and answered!

HEHE. when I was living in TX (2000 ish) we ended up going home from work early because there "might be snow later" and don't bother coming in tommorrow. THe snow that fell was less than half an inch and I got a free snow day. Always thought that was amazing since I am from MA and there needs to be at least 6 inches before a snow day is happening there :)

I moved from Miami, FL to Seattle, WA a year & a half ago..and I am scared to death about driving on icy roads. I usually just don't go out when it's icy (a choice I have, as a SAHM).

And then, there's "black ice" - ?!?! Apparently, this happens even on sunny days?

Anyway, I am so worried about driving here that I told my husband I needed a new car with 4 wheel drive. He agreed!

Thank God it doesn't snow much here. And as for the Seattle rain - bah! The rain is A LOT WORSE in Miami! I drove through numerous tropical storms in my 30+ years there.

Black Ice is really just clear ice - the road looks fine, not covered really in snow or nothing... but it's go a thin sheet of ice over it, and can catch people unaware. Happens mostly on days where the temperature dropped after the snow/ice had time to melt and then re-freeze (so sun can do it), but it tends to happen on bridges more where the wind an cold freezes from top and bottom...

It's not easy, but we survive. When I lived in Calgary, we had 2 spells of -35C weather, which is the equivalent of - 97F, or at least it feels like it.

I think it hit -39C there in Alberta today...

So frustrated!

I learned to drive up north, in a '71 VW Beetle. Don't be stupid in the ice, down shift, don't brake. People here in Oklahoma don't even know how to put snow chains on, let alone drive on ice.

Someone tonight got into a wreck on our street, I asked them why they weren't in 4-wheel drive. Their response? "That's just for muddin' isn't it?"

Please let me get into vet school somewhere that's not OK.

I just wish I could live back in SUNNY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Then I realize that I could fall into the ocean due to an earthquake, or burn up due to the "santanas" or get looted out--because "I didn't even have to use my AK--gotta say it was a good day..."

However, it's been cold as the last circle of Hell in Seattle, WA... No rain, though. So I guess that's fine... Just don't fall in Lake Washington...

The weather here in NC is just ridiculous.

YESTERDAY, it was over 70 degrees. I sat outside in Tshirt, capris and flip-flops by our pool and read magazines.

Today it is 34 degrees and snowing, although it isn't sticking to anything but the grass. How absolutely stupid.

So it's really difficult to know what to expect with driving. We really only get about one or two "real" snows per winter, and lots more of sleet and ice. So no real opportunity to practice, I suppose.

It sucked living in the mountains and having to drive up and down a winding road that went up 3000 feet when it was snowing like crazy. The good thing is that after that, driving in any situation is easy.

I'd be happy to live without the ridiculous cold we've had the past few days, but I'll always prefer cold over hot. Most of the time, it's really nice here (no humidity, ever) and I like the snow.

wow

that has got to be scary

switchbacks are always fun

I am in the Chicago area. Right now it's a balmy 3.4 degrees and the wind chill is -8. We just wear lots of layers. Tomorrow we're supposed to get up to 24 degrees...woohoo!

AGDee is right about some places being more prepared. Some years ago my friend from SC was talking about how his state was pretty much shut down for some snow (I don't remember the exact amount but it was something fairly routine for Chicago), and he mentioned the two snowplows in his county couldn't keep up, and there was no salt. We have at least 10 plows/salt trucks in my town alone!

There was wind chill advisorary last night around Chi-town. Not a good time for our furnace to go out. Luckly my husband and I have a friend in heating and cooling who came over at 10:00p.m. to fix our heat. Right now its 5 degrees, but feels like -10, but it is still sunny!! ;)

I would rather live here in the Mid-west where it gets colder in the winter, then down south where it gets hotter in the summer. At least when it gets cold you can keep layering and put things on...when the heat gets unbearable for me here in Chicago there is only so much I can take off. I can't even imagine living in a place were it gets even hotter!!

Its a beautiful 0 right now in WI. This thread asked how we deal with this. Swearing. Lots and lots of bitching and complaining about how cold it is.

I've always been a fan of drinking to keep warm.

Today was the coldest day of the year in Montreal. It was nuts! I am so ready for summer!