Below zero F (~18C) last week at daytime, with windchill between -11F (~-24C) and -22F (~-31C). Lower air temperature at night with similar and slightly higher wind speeds because another front was moving closer. Did not go outside at all, the postal carrier held the mail for 3 days because some mailboxes were frozen. The building is creaking with the cold & wind.
It's been 4 years since temps were this low with similar wind speeds. The last time though, I bundled up on a sunny day, covered all exposed skin, wore snow goggles and trekked 2.5 miles (4 km) to a local forest preserve that has a lake. All the ice fishermen(& women) were out in tents over their fishing holes in the ice which was 15" (38 cm) thick. So I walked across the lake and got to look at the forest from the middle of it. Took a few pictures and then went home.
However, I did not take any walks this time because blowing snow made it difficult to be seen crossing the roads. Stayed at home, read a bit, watched some PBS programs/series I had missed, made some soups, stew, and pan biscuits and then repeated it. Forecast is for one more day of below zero conditions and then a thaw.
Let the dripping from melting snow begin.
[Wind Chill is a term used to describe what the air temperature feels like to the human skin due to the combination of cold temperatures and winds blowing on exposed skin. The calculation will tell you how long it will take to get frostbite on exposed skin.]
