My son goes to school in Ripon, Wisconsin and just texted me...

[Laffy Kat]

That they are closing the college tomorrow because the windchill is supposed to be -60 F. I told him not to go out at all. (Don't your eyeballs freeze at -60?)

[lapfog_1]

1. less than 5 min of any exposed skin will start to get frostbite

and I believe that was at -45F

[Laffy Kat]

5. Yikes! nt

[htuttle]

2. They just closed the UW Madison campus from 5 PM tonight to noon on Thursday

First time that's happened in decades, I think.

Low tonight is -25 or -30, high tomorrow is like -12.

Wind chills will be at least 30 or 40 degrees colder than the temperature, because we have a 25+ mph wind along with it.

For me, it's a 'required paid leave' event, since I work there. Never knew that was a thing before.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Hope there is either food in the dorms or a plan to deliver some!

[htuttle]

8. The dorms and housing food service are the few things that will remain open at UW Madison until Thu

Also, animal caretaking (lab animals, and the vet school and Ag dept cows), security, and physical plant (ie., HVAC).

That's about it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. Glad to hear it! Essential service workers deserve hazard pay!

[Laffy Kat]

11. He lives in the senior apartments, so he has a kitchen.

I just hope he's stocked up. I forgot to ask. Man, we never quit being mothers, do we?

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Asked hubby today if eldergreenkid had a hat and gloves on

campus with him. UMaine won't be hitting your kind of temps, but still cold enough to need to bundle for long walks to classes!

But yeah, the Mommy urge never quite leaves!

[Laffy Kat]

25. The other day he asked me to mail him an extra blanket.

I wanted to send him an electric blanket but he doesn't like those, so I Amazon-ed him the warmest blanket I could find online. He should get it today. Poor kid. I picture my baby boy shivering in bed.

[LisaM]

26. I'm picturing the delivery people freezing!

Seems like non-essential packages and mail should be suspended, too.

[Laffy Kat]

31. I know and I agree (after my baby gets his blankey, LOL). nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

34. Lots of layers, hot drinks, and staying under the covers

should help!

Good plan on sending a blanket. I bet it will help you as much as him!

[Laffy Kat]

39. He got it this afternoon right before the campus mail center closed.

I hope it helps. I can't keep from thinking about everyone out there w/o shelter. I'm even worried about the cows. Can cows stay alive when it's that cold?

[GreenPartyVoter]

40. Glad it arrived in time! I am also worried about people and animals

who lack shelter. This will not be good for them.

[lunatica]

41. Does he have a girlfriend?

The freezing part can be averted if he does!

[mrs_p]

4. It's -22 F here in Fargo

And feels like -53. The bridge of my nose hurt when I took the dog out to do her business. It felt like an instant brain freeze.

[Laffy Kat]

7. OMG. That's also got to be bad for the dog. nt

[htuttle]

10. My dog and I are only venturing into the back yard this week

Even then, I've had to lift him up carry him (Black lab/Staffordshire mix) back inside the house twice when his paws got too cold.

[Laffy Kat]

13. Poor baby. Is he about 50 pounds? nt

[htuttle]

14. at least

Thankfully, I got a full body harness for him, since he's an escape artist, and it has handles on each end, lol.

[Laffy Kat]

22. OK, that works. One of my dogs is 50 lb and I don't think I could pick her up. nt

[mrs_p]

29. She is a border collie from a WY

Sheep ranch. Love love loves the snow. She had her booties on and only lasted 2 min.

[Laffy Kat]

30. Then you KNOW it's cold!

It takes a lot to keep a BC inside.

[Siwsan]

6. Schools here in mid-Michigan are closed, again, today. I bet the same for tomorrow

School buses can't get down some of the side streets and rural roads. My street still hasn't been plowed, and that's really unusual. My driveway WAS clear, at about 8, last night. Not any more. And with tomorrow's wind chills forecast somewhere around -35, for tomorrow, it's just not safe for kids.

And, yea, I've read that it isn't safe to go out without goggles for your eyes and a scarf to protect your nose and mouth.

Our forecast for Sunday is in the 40's and rain.

[Laffy Kat]

9. Maybe the rain will melt some of the snow.

Of course, then the big mess will freeze again overnight....

Stay cozy.

[Siwsan]

16. Once the temps go back down, it will be a real mess

Looks like that happens on Tuesday.

My car is in for repairs, so I can't go anywhere, even if I wanted to. Which I don't. I got all stocked up, on Saturday.

Now I'm just waiting for the plow to completely block in the end of my driveway. I'll have to dig a breech in that wall, so that when things start to melt, the water doesn't get dammed up at the end of my driveway.

I love Michigan, 3 seasons out of the year. Winter is not one of those seasons.

[Laffy Kat]

20. Sounds dreadful, Siwsan.

[Iliyah]

12. Living in Southern California all my life, I can't

fathom -60. I wish everyone who are experiencing such coldness, stay inside if you can and keep warm.

[Laffy Kat]

17. I'm in Colorado and I pretty much go into hibernation mode at zero.

I can't fathom it either.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. Living in Minnesota all my life, and having survived these temperatures before

(these cold snaps were normal every winter up through the mid- 90s), I can tell you that it's quite manageable as long as you wear enough clothes and cover exposed skin if there's any significant wind. The sensation of having your nose hairs and eyelashes freeze is interesting and should be experienced at least once in your life.

[htuttle]

28. And beards! Tell them what happens to beards!

[Laffy Kat]

32. Gasp. But how did it get so much moisture?

Looks like someone poured a bucket of water over his head.

[sinkingfeeling]

33. Yep, lived in Minnesota about 3 years. I moved there directly from Tucson, AZ.

[riversedge]

18. I am about 100 north of Ripon.....WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT *Minus 26 tonight without

the windchill


I gave up shoveling. stupid to be outside. no school yesterday, nor today. Prob. not Wed either.




Today
Jan 29
-5° Hi RealFeel® -25°
Clouds and sun; breezy



More
Tonight
Jan 29
-26° Lo RealFeel® -48°
Mostly cloudy; breezy




Wind Chill Warning ...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL ...
Severe Weather Alerts -

Wind Chill Warning
Wind Chill Warning in effect from 3:00 PM CST until Thursday, 9:00 AM CST. Source: U.S. National Weather Service

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THURSDAY...
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills. Wind chills as low as 60
below zero.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Wisconsin and
east central and southeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 9 AM CST Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The dangerously cold wind chills could
cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
the wind will create dangerously low wind chill values. Frostbite
can occur quickly and even hypothermia or death if precautions
are not taken.

[Laffy Kat]

21. Hope you have Netflix!

[Iliyah]

24. Hugs!

[Talitha]

35. I live just south of Minocqua WI and am NOT looking forward to this Arctic snap.

One thing for sure, though - it's nice to be retired!

BTW, has anyone ever tossed warm water into the air when it's super-cold?
(With your back to the wind, of course. )

I've heard that it turns to snow as soon as it leaves the glass.

[LeftInTX]

36. Brrr...My family has a place up there (Pike Lake chain)

My brother actually lived there for a year. They had to hire a snowplow, cuz there wasn't one.

[DFW]

37. And here I was feeling sorry for myself here in Sprout City

About 33°F and sloshy rain. I guess I should be happy with what I'm stuck with.

[Major Nikon]

38. I spent a winter in ND when it got that cold

Once was enough to last a lifetime. Now I live in Texas and watch winter on TV.