How cold is cold!

Firefly86

Firefly86

Firefly86

Associate
Joined
19 Jul 2006
Posts
258
Location
Gibraltar
Hi guys =)

I got a bit of a strange question :P but its something I'm a little concerned about.

Me and my family are going to Alaska in November to see the Northern Lights =) (amongst other things).

At the moment we live in Gibraltar which pretty much means were used to warm temperatures.

I've been looking at temps for Fairbanks Alaska in November and zomg it scared the crap outta me.

I was wondering if anyone else has had experience in -20 degree celsius temperature? Is it like....really really freezing? or is it not so bad ? :S Is it dangerous lol.

Thanks =)
 
It'll likely be a dry cold so you won't feel it as much, if it's dry it'll be like a frosty morning. Of course if it's a wet cold or a bit windy then you'll feel it :p .

Jokester
 
itl be a different sort of cold to we get here

not as damp

edit - a guy at work always said that the coldest he sever felt was in the uk during winter :confused:

apparently the cold here gets to his bones ? :p crazy Norwegian tbh
 
It's cold, but perfectly easy to deal with. A good coat, plenty of layers and you'll be fine.

I had a rather nasty moment in Finland (-40) mainly due to bad luck, but for most of the time I was fine (I got wet. very very wet).
 
Climb into your freezer and find out for your self.

if you do this and die please don't sue me
 
Look, it's nothing. Spray yourself with a hose and lie outside naked and yes, you'll suffer. Wear decent clothes, keep moving and you'll start to sweat.
 
The coldest ive been in was -40 something when I was skiing in middle of winter in Norway. And yes its damn cold, but then your not going to be running around in shorts either. As long as you make sure you wrap up warm you should be fine. Remember that more thin layers is better than few thicker layers. Also get a good hat(One that covers your ears) And get good socks. Its also good to carry around a flask of hot drink and something like chocolate as its suprising how quickly your body burns eneergy in that sort of situation. On the flipside, the warmest I have been in was 42 degrees C in the middle of summer in Prague.. in the middle of a campsite with no shade. :( As much as I like the warm, I think i'd choose the -40 rather then the +40.
 
messiah khan said:
As much as I like the warm, I think i'd choose the -40 rather then the +40.
Click to expand...

too true - you can always put extra clothes on, but there's nothing you can do really when you're just too hot
 
Another tip. Cold extremities usually mean you don't have enough layers on your torso. No matter how good your gloves are if you aren't wearing enough T-shirts or jackets your fingers will get cold.

(Due to your body reducing the blood flow to your extremities to conserve heat around your vital organs.)

And yes about 30% of your body heat is lost through your head.
 
MAke sure you have a coat which is windproof. As at -20 in a blizzard becomes like -40

-20 is fine tho, I went out most mornings in Norway ( on a little winter trip!) to have a wizz in the snow in only a t-shirt and boxers.

No indoor toilet if anyone asks...
:0
 
Can't even begin to imagine what that sort of cold is like - I get cold when it's like 0, no idea what it gets like below that. Ahhh the joys of living down south :D Would love to visit one of the poles one day though.
 
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