It's -30F outside right now.

[Scott Patterson]

At my house, it's -30F outside at right now. Officially -22F downtown. Coldest so far this season.

Can't wait for the warm up Sunday. Above 20 is going to feel so good.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... 107.55&e=1

[vbhoutex]

THAT IS TOO DAMN COLD!!!!!

[RL3AO]

Was it windy?

[HURAKAN]

We're are getting in the 40s next week!!! Of course, positive 40s!!!

[azsnowman]

-4°F was our morning low! Sitting at 9°F at 1009 hours!

[JonathanBelles]

Its 74° here!

[HURAKAN]

Its 74° here!

Right now it's 83ºF here.

Our normal high is supposed to be 77ºF.

[Scott Patterson]

Was it windy?

Only a bit breezy.

Anyway, looks like the offical low downtown was -26 (click link).

http://www.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KCAG.html

Our min guage thermometer outside town says -32 was the lowest it dropped to this morning.

Gunnison County also hit -26 so tied downtown Craig (see above link) for the official low of the nation:

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wext.htm

Too bad they wouldn't count my house as an official station.

[southerngale]

At my house, it's -30F outside at right now. Officially -22F downtown. Coldest so far this season.

Can't wait for the warm up Sunday. Above 20 is going to feel so good.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... 107.55&e=1

Whoa.

I'd love to see some snow, but I wouldn't want those temps! That's waaaay too cold!

[GeneratorPower]

Temps like that cause the nitrogen in the air to liquify.

Just kidding, but not by much!

[angelwing]

I could take the snow and maybe teens, 20's but that is WAY TOO COLD!!!!!!

[RL3AO]

From experience (never felt -30), I do know that once it gets below -15 or so, you don't really feel the difference. As long as the wind is low, it isn't actually that bad. But I would take -5 and no wind over 10 with a mild breeze any day.

[PTPatrick]

I had 6 degrees this AM here in Downtown denver...but I have also had -6 before, and it didnt seem to feel much colder. I havent ever felt -30. I have heard though that you body cant really tell the difference when its 10 below zero or -30...and that the only difference is the amount of time your body can handle the exposure to it...but that is just what I heard. Like I guess you just freeze quicker or something?

[Scott Patterson]

I havent ever felt -30. I have heard though that you body cant really tell the difference when its 10 below zero or -30

I've heard someone say that before, but who ever told you that was off base. There is definately a big difference. I actually walk or bike to work when ever it is -15F. -30 is just too unpleasant in normal clothes (face mask, hat, down coat, gloves and -25 boots) because there is such a big difference.

I have actually climbed in -80 chill factors as well. No matter what clothes you wear, it's hard to keep warm even if you are dressed like an eskimo. Here is a photo taken during -70 to -80 chill factors:



I'm the one in front, but notice how I'm trying to shield my face despite the fact that every square inch on me was covered. Heres a closer up photo of our clothing, but at this point the chill factor was "only" -50 or so, so we weren't as cold:



Once the temperature starts dropping below -20 the effect is almost expodential. Believe it or not, if dressed really well, -40 or -50 temp or chill factor isn't that bad, but when it's really cold it doesn't matter how much you put on.

[JBG]

Oops - double post.

[JBG]

Was it windy?

Anyway, looks like the offical low downtown was -26 (click link).

http://www.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KCAG.html

Our min guage thermometer outside town says -32 was the lowest it dropped to this morning.

Gunnison County also hit -26 so tied downtown Craig (see above link) for the official low of the nation:

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wext.htm

Too bad they wouldn't count my house as an official station.

Interesting. One of the culprits in the so-called "global warming" scare is the fact that many "official" stations overemphasize urban "heat island" effect. The thermometers just out of town may be more representative of real conditions. Thus, the use of "official" thermometers in rapidly urbanizing locations may be creating a non-existant or exagerrated (sp) "warming trend".

[Scott Patterson]

One of the culprits in the so-called "global warming" scare is the fact that many "official" stations overemphasize urban "heat island" effect. The thermometers just out of town may be more representative of real conditions. Thus, the use of "official" thermometers in rapidly urbanizing locations may be creating a non-existant or exagerrated (sp) "warming trend".

I don't want this thread to turn into a global warming thread or debate, but you are obviously not familiar with the area if you think it is urban or an "urban heat island" and "rapidly urbanizing location".

You are proably the first person in history to ever refer to Craig as an urban area. I live at the opposite end of town that I work in and it takes me a few minutes to across town-on a bicycle. We do have two three story buildings though.

Outside Craig the county is even less "urban". The county I live in is about twice the size of Deleware or the size of Conneticut. There are about 2000 residents in that entire area and the next largest city (on the other side of the county) has just over 300 people. Outiside a few in Craig there are no stoplights in the entire county.
===========================================================================================

Anyway, the reason for the temperature difference in this case is due to the slopes and cold air sinks. The Trapper Mine (station Craig 4SW) is about seven miles from downtown, but sits on the hill. It stays much warmer in winter. What I refered to as the downtown station actually sits on the south side of town, but is drained by breezes off the hill.
Outlying locations get a bit colder at night. Since 1977, the coldest it has gotten officially at teh Weather Station Craig 4SW is -41F, and in winter is the warmest of the locations in the area. At the Craig-Moffat Station which is just outside downtown and only seven miles away from the trapper mine has gotten as low as -56 and has dropped to -50 on several occasions (last time in Feb 1989). It's at the airport and is the closest official station to town. Maybell, the next town down river is a bit colder still. In 1985, it hit -61 in 1985 and still remains the record low in Colorado.

The position in the valley floor makes all the difference and you can see large changes in night temperatures in a short distance.

Anyway, as far as GW warming goes we can actually physically see a warming trend around here, for whatever might be causing it. Check out my article with photographs of an old glacier located just to the west of here and in Utah:

http://www.summitpost.org/article/18614 ... acier.html

This article isn't about the GW debate, but no one can really say the earth isn't warming. You can actually physicially see it within our short life spans.

That's a whole different topic however. The purpose of the article is historical reference and the purpose of the thread was to discuss the -30 outside.

[JBG]

That's a whole different topic however. The purpose of the article is historical reference and the purpose of the thread was to discuss the -30 outside.

I apologize for the "off-topic" and defer to your local knowledge. But is the "official" thermometer in an appropriately shaded area,the appropriate distance from pavement and the correct amount off the ground?

I will discuss GW in the appropriate place, though.

[Dionne]

From experience (never felt -30), I do know that once it gets below -15 or so, you don't really feel the difference. As long as the wind is low, it isn't actually that bad. But I would take -5 and no wind over 10 with a mild breeze any day.

Nope. I used to work in Prudhoe Bay, AK. Down around -40F your insides hurt. Breathing is labored. Stupid mistakes become common. Projects slow to 5% efficient.

[Sean in New Orleans]

I would never live in a place that got that cold. It isn't fit for humanity. I've experienced that kind of cold a couple of times and it is so uncomfortable it is disgusting.