sunbum1944:

I also grew up and still live in Canada (Alberta) and yes, minus 40 is not uncommon here too. It doesn't happen that often but when it does, look out !! If there is any wind whatsoever, well, forget, just don't go outside period. Today is -17°C.

Mikemo is channeling Mark Twain, who said that the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.

Doncha just love the Midwest winters?

Toss up as to whether I've been colder in UP of Michigan, Wisconsin or Minnesota. I did cross country ski on the Lake Superior shore one year near Ontonagan when it was below zero, but it was sunny and crisp and some of the fastest wax we've ever had.

From a (who knows how reliable Google source)- the record for MN is -61 and the record for WI is -54. That record for WI is also a record for anywhere in the US to the east of the MS River.

SusanEva

On the beaches of Normandy last November. I knew it would be cold... but my gosh... it was bone chilling. I was frigid! A nice warm drink would be hot apple cider with a shot of bourbon or whiskey!

Temps bring out one's competitive nature, don't they??
And since the Badgers womped the Gophers in hockey this weekend, at least we've got our record low to throw in their little stripey faces!!
Tee hee.

Skiing at Keystone early January 1996, -50 degrees windchill, mid-mountain!

Skiing at Mt. Ste. Anne north of Quebec... they ski until 10pm.

One night we had -27F air temp. Add a nice little breeze and head downhill at 25mph.

2nd place... jumping into 49 degree water off of Akoroa, New Zealand to swim with Hector's dolphins. Wet suit was no help... definitely dry suit weather.

I was going to nominate january 20, 1985 in chicago as well! DH was returning from a business trip to Jamaica and we met him at O'hare with heavy coat, hat, gloves etc since he was plunging from 80-ish to about 80 below!

It wasn't the coldest place... but it was very unexpected. When I was in Hawaii back in 2000, my husband and I biked down Haleakala. We were warned to bundle up and I wore a sweatshirt. Oh my gosh.. we had snow flurries. It was freezing. I had a chapped face and sniffles the next morning! Who'd of thunk it???

The coldest place and tempurature I've ever experienced was right outside my front door in the Winter of 1993 or 1994 when I stood on an "EL" plantform for 30 minutes waiting for a train in -20F windy weather (they are never late when it is nice out), that pathetic little heat lamp they had was worthless. I thought I was going to die, by the time the train came is was a struggle to make my body move to board the damn thing, I can honestly say I've never been so cold in my life, the cold actually froze the tears to my face.

Although today was pretty damn chilly, it was nothing compared to that miserable night.

Oh, and I remember that day in Chicago in 1985, it was one of the few times they cancelled school due to cold.

My apartment in downtown Portland, OR - right now!

DH and I went to NYC for Christmas 2000. Coming from Vegas I was armed with 1 thin leather jacket, DH had a coat. Arrived at Newark and about froze just getting our luggage because it was near the exit doors...this was our first clue our apparrel would not be adequate. Arrived in NYC at our hotel, checked in (about 8PM) decided to go back downstairs and walk around Times Square, went outside and everything seemed ok, then turned a corner and the wind was whipping in between those buildings and it was SO COLD, we turned right back around went into the gift store and bought gloves just to go back upstairs!!!!! First thing next morning we bought more gloves (better ones), scarves, hats (we have never owned this stuff before). Now I know why all the locals were wearing long thick wool coats, my little leather jacket just wasn't cutting it.
That same trip we went up top the Empire State Building, I wanted to take a picture from all 4 sides. Took the first two, no problem, went around to the next side and it was all in shade, we were suddenly alone...just us the built up snow/ice and the FREEZING temps!!!!

When I was 13, I moved from Houston to Wisconsin, and it got to be -80 for a few days my first or second winter there. People were advised not to leave their homes. School was closed, business was closed. It was insane!

I miss that cold weather insanity here in LA, I really do, actually.

lynnejoel1015--Hi from Wisconsin. I would gladly trade places with you today. This morning, as we took out the trash (down our loooonnnggg driveway) my runny nose froze. Not kidding. It is 5 degrees out today, but negative something with the lake effect wind chill, and a high projected to be 10 degrees. And we have maybe 12 inches of snow accumulated on the ground. It is going to be a long winter in WI. So I guess the coldest place I have been too as of recent is my DRIVEWAY today. Only 30 days until our HI vacation, which I already need.

russia in Oct. I remember seeing an American woman wearing a short skirt, and seeing the goose bumps on her legs.

I don't have very many experiences that will top any of the ones above, but we were in Minneapolis a few years ago and it was just freezing. I live in St. Louis and am somewhat used to cold temps but being in Minneapolis made St. Louis feel like the tropics!

I also drive up to Chicago every December and it can get very cold up there as well. Walking around downtown with the icy wind blowing off the lake can be bitterly cold.

Tracy

I forgot about the sking trip near Duluth. back when I had a mustache in college and we were skiing fools at below zero after dark. I had huge ice balls hanging from my mustache over my mouth.

we were in toronto for thanksgiving and it was 10 below, it really was quite refreshing we even went to the Ice Bar there. Everything was made of ice...tables, chairs and even the glasses. it was really great and yes, very cool!

Even though I have been in Iowa and Eastern Oregon in sub zero weather I think the most miserable I have ever been was on the corner of Powell & Market in San Franciscom with the wind howling down Market. :-B