How Cold Is It? Listener Tips for Staying Warm and Safe

Cold Weather Experiences

• 🥶 Extreme cold is impacting a large part of the United States, from the northern plains to the east coast, with some areas experiencing single-digit weather and below-zero temperatures.
• 🧊 In New York City, listeners shared experiences like needing hot water to melt ice on a salon gate lock and witnessing a dog stuck to a fire hydrant.
• 🌴 Even southern regions like Florida's panhandle saw snowfall, affecting palm trees and freezing citrus fruits, prompting snowbirds to wear down jackets.

Staying Warm and Safe

• 🧣 Layers are essential, including unders slacks, mittens (warmer than gloves), scarves to cover the nose and mouth, and hats.
• 🚲 Cyclists, especially older ones, are warned that at 20°F or lower, nose hairs can freeze, impairing the ability to filter germs and potentially leading to illness like pneumonia.
• 🏠 Indoor tips include keeping couches away from radiators, blocking drafts from doors by wedging chairs, and reversing ceiling fans to circulate warm air.
• 💡 A unique tip for extreme cold is using electric battery-operated socks to keep feet warm, functioning like an electric blanket.

Cold Weather Behaviors

• 🚶‍♀️ Some individuals, like Judith on the Upper West Side, find that participating in local picket lines with nurses keeps them warm through rage and energy, despite the cold.
• 🐦 Birders like Jennifer at Jones Beach need to wear more clothing and deal with freezing hands while using cameras or making entries, but the birds are still out foraging.
• ⚠️ A general caution is to avoid touching cold metal with warm hands to prevent sticking and leaving skin behind.