Accuweather comments 75 below zero? Polar vortex brings life-threatening chill, staggeringly low AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures.
Long-standing records are poised to fall as the polar vortex sends extremely cold air into the north-central, midwestern and northeastern United States.
States of emergency have been issued in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan due to the extreme cold with many schools and businesses closing until the frigid air loosens its grip on the region later this week.
Minneapolis could break low temperature records originally set back in the 1800s, and Chicago could challenge it’s all-time record low of minus 27 F, set on Jan. 20, 1985.
Memories
I recall that record low. I drove to Bayfield, Wisconsin to photograph ice formations on Lake Superior. The actual temperature was -40. I do not know what the wind chill was.
I kept my car running all night, locked, out of fear it would not start.
I got up the next morning, well before sunrise, and drove to Madeline Island.
They call it a “seasonal road”. In reality it’s Lake Superior.
But a few months of the year the ice is solid enough to drive on. Gas taxes support the “road”.
Big Bay State park is on the far side of the island. No one in their right mind was anywhere near where I was that morning, but there I was and here is the image.
Big Bay State Park Winter Sunrise
Falling Through the Ice
Shortly after taking that image I fell through the ice, but not completely. One knee slammed into the ice holding me up, while the other leg went completely through.
The knee that hit the ice, my left knee, immediately swelled up and I could barely move it. I had a mile to go on cross county skis to get to my car. My car at the time had a clutch. I drove back to Chicago in two gears, second and fourth to eliminate painful shifting.
It was 6 months before the pain in my left knee was completely gone.
Lessons Learned
A worker friend asked me if I learned anything from the experience. I immediately replied, “Yes, you have to take some chances if you want to get good pictures”.
He commented. “Well, at least you learned something”.
If you are interested in photography, please check out my photography website Mish Moments.
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Mike “Mish” Shedlock
Kids Explain Climate Change to Donald Trump
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Published on Jan 30, 2019
More than 83 million Americans are expected to experience subzero temperatures this week and Donald Trump weighed in on the weather AGAIN today on Twitter implying that global warming isn’t real. Since he doesn’t seem to understand science and he doesn’t know that climate change is responsible for extreme temperatures, including cold, we invited a couple of kids who do, to break it down for him.
John Tyndall discovered that in 1859… about that time scientists were also trying trying to figure out when the sun would burn out…. because it’s made out of coal, yaknow!
You’re a bloody good photographer Mish. I dabble, but have years of learning to go (a retirement project, I hope).
I’ve been trying to get better at post production as well.
I lived in Schaumburg in the late 70s. Through one of those winters, the temp didn’t break the freezing mark for 93 days. I don’t miss it either.
I used to live a few miles north of where Mish lives in No. IL. Today’s weather forecast there: High -14, low -30. I remember one other time it got down to -30, about 30 years ago. Gee I sure miss that! Today’s high where I live now is 69. As for the sore knee story: maybe I can teach you how to shift a manual trans without using the clutch sometime, Mish.
This article had nothing at all to do with global warming or climate. I Mentioned neither. I read an article about breaking the record for cold weather and it triggered a memory of what I believe to be an excellent image taken on such conditions. The comments from true believers on my last post were at least in line. Such comments here are ridiculous.
Commander McBragg. LOL.
I also remember the days by the lake when its -40c, as the sun went down the sound the ice made while contracting was mesmerizing.
Mish, that was a wise choice to leave your car running. I was in Steamboat Springs, Colorado years ago, and woke up to find -45 degrees. My car definitely would not start, as the 10W-40 oil that I had in it was far, far too thick. Fortunately it was sunny, so I pushed the car into the sun, and opened the hood, and after the sun warmed the dark engine for an hour, it did start.
I saw a TV show a while back where truck drivers in Siberia not only had to leave their engines running, they also had to build fires under the trucks. Apparently at temps <-50c, an idling engine doesn’t produce enough heat to keep the engine warm enough to run.
Trucks are another issue, as many of them are diesel. Diesel fuel gels in the cold. Still, starting a fire under a tank of fuel doesn’t sound very safe.
I always have a laugh when the weather forecast is for polar express temperatures back east. Out here in Colorado we call it “winter” and go skiing.
The day before was 40 below, and the car did start, and I did go skiing. However, there were not many on the slopes that day, and those of us that were there took a break after every run to make sure we didn’t get frostbite. Even in Colorado there is a break point where sanity reigns.
Mish BTW there is a video on how to climb out of water after falling through ice. Its something everyone should be aware of just in case. You’ll have to google it.
Keep an eye out for Tesla failures and stranding. The dangers of recharging the batteries in low temperature has largely gone by unnoticed.
Even worse if you have to leave a Tesla outside overnight in the cold. You can’t charge them under 30 degrees. And it uses power to keep “warm” to stay alive. Until completely out of power.
Guess how long these are going to last in this kind of cold….
As someone that drove a Sebring-Vanguard Citicar back in the 70’s, they do have short range in the winter, but another problem is heat. The Citicar had no heat. I presume the Tesla has an electric heater, but that would eat the battery fast.