It's hat weather here in Wisconsin. It's nice and sunny, but the temperature stayed below zero all day today, which it doesn't usually do. And they closed the schools, which is uncommon to put it mildly.
They usually only close the schools when there's a big snowstorm that's timed just right. If a snowstorm gets going at midnight and dumps ten inches of snow or more by ten the next morning, that'll do it. But if the same snowstorm starts at noon, it's tough luck, kids.
My son, of course, insisted on walking to his friend's house today. I made him wear his hat. I saw –15 degrees F on the thermometer last night. That's –26 degrees C. When that kind of cold gets a wind under it, you really do need to wear your hat.
The local paper featured a nice winter scene from down by the lakeside, taken by one of their staff photographers. I'd like to run it here, but I haven't been able to contact him yet. Wonder where he is?
Probably out taking advantage of the nice weather.
Cheers,
Seems like you're moving toward Lake Woebegon territory. I like it.
Posted by: Michael | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 05:23 PM
As a motorcyclist who rides every day, no matter the weather, I can heartily endorse your direction to your son.
As many hikers and bikers are wont to say: "cold hands? wear a hat!"
Posted by: john | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 05:34 PM
What on earth are you talking about, Mike...? I've been wearing my hat for a month, now!
Posted by: Miserere | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 05:58 PM
Hats, yes. Though when it's balmy like this, I usually use my 2003 Cubs commemorative hat, (Marlins). I'm saving the Stormy Kromer, bright red, for the cold weather. Don't want to wear it out.
Bron, from sunny South Bend, one of the garden spots of the upper Midwest.
Posted by: Bron Janulis | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 06:02 PM
It's in the low 40s (above!) here in Anchorage due to our annual January Thaw They've closed the school district and buses two days in a row now because of the extreme melt making the road conditions incredibly treacherous. Yesterday, on the way into work very eary, I used my brakes and slide nearly an entire block.
Posted by: Tony Rowlett | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 06:04 PM
42 degrees yesterday.........107 to you guys in US of A
Posted by: Imants | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 06:30 PM
It's funny you should mention hat weather because it's definitely "hat weather" around here also -- 40° Celsius is forecast today here in sunny Perth, Western Australia! :-)
Isn't it funny how big a difference there can be in two people's concept of what a hat is, what it's for and when someone should wear one?
Posted by: Christian | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 06:36 PM
In North Dakota the natives would say, "Twenty below keeps the riff-raff out."
I'm actually writing this comment from Appleton, WI Airport --Leaving for San Francisco. Good bye arctic air!
Posted by: Dave | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 06:58 PM
Hat weather here too: Tonight's low predicted low: -20 degrees C (2.2 F). Brrrr, that's cold.
Posted by: Yvonne | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 07:12 PM
I just read that while sitting on the beach while my daughter builds a sandcastle... it's 71 degrees and sunny in LA. Personally I find the weather here pretty boring, but I suppose I shouldn't complain...
Posted by: Jonas Yip | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 07:21 PM
As a I recall your son has a mess of
hair on his noggin. Tell him to stack it high and wide, tie with a ribbon then put on his
toque. Tight over his forehead and ears.
He is your son Dad, and you love him dearly.
However he is a teen and as such does things his way. Regardless of what you say!
Posted by: Bryce Lee | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 08:02 PM
Five winters in Wisconsin as a young man has lasted me a lifetime. It was 65 degrees here in San Antonio today.
Posted by: Ken White | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 08:19 PM
Move to Austin Mike. Locals around here were complaining today because it only hit 48 for high. Please don't feel bad for us though as it will be back in the low 70's by the weekend. Not sure I could go back the "real" cold again.
Posted by: EmmJay | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 11:00 PM
Ha ha, it is warmer where I am in Canada! Granted, I am in the ONLY place that is not -40C right now, but still.
It takes -30C to get me in a hat. I will wear knee high socks under my pants, two layers of gloves, and my biggest coat... but never the hat.
Posted by: Tanya Plonka | Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 11:11 PM
Mmmmm, colder this morning in Wisconsin. I love minus 40---then you don't have to worry about converting F to C for your friends overseas...
(It's -20 F. And I promised myself that I'd get up early this morning and shoot the Bong prairie at dawn. But it's so nice and comfy, and I was playing with a bunch of new strobe equipment last night...)
Posted by: Jim Kofron | Friday, 16 January 2009 at 06:48 AM
I think you got your Fahrenheit and Celsius a little confused there Mike.
-15F is awfully fr***in' cold whereas 26 C is very pleasantly warm.
Posted by: Paul Watson | Friday, 16 January 2009 at 08:58 AM
It was -22 F in Minneapolis this morning...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charcoalheather/3200805009/
Posted by: Hoainam | Friday, 16 January 2009 at 09:35 AM
I'm in that part of Canada that is minus 30 C reaching minus 40 with windchill. Wore a hat and a Canon G9 and found the camera worked fine in these temps even though the spec sheet shows a lower operating bound of 0 C. The hat however, clearly needs more hair underneath it.
Posted by: fjf | Friday, 16 January 2009 at 12:20 PM
I was out on my first night with my D700 for two hours at -30C and below. I took lots of pictures of my kids and the camera worked fine.
Funny that they would cancel school at such a warm temperature. I personally have walked to school in -40 with wind.
I wear my hat, but I don't always wear socks.
Posted by: Doug | Saturday, 17 January 2009 at 01:00 AM