Preparing for the Freeze

seadoug

seadoug

Well-known Member
Location
Texas
I know many of you in other states have been going through freezing weather and heavy snow for a few days now. The Iowa Caucus is on the news because it is the coldest weather they have seen in years.

We are going into below-freezing weather here in Dallas starting tonight and lasting until Wednesday. The last time we went through this, lives were lost because the power grid was not sufficient. Our governor now assures us it will be okay. (No comment.)

Anyway, we covered many of our plants with sheets today, wrapped our outdoor faucets and opened our cabinets and let the faucets drip. What are you experiencing, and what have you done to prepare?
 

Devi said:
Well, it was -9 degrees Fahrenheit (-22.777777778 Celcius) here in Washington state today. Got the heat turned up.
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Sorry Devi for laughing....last night our temps dropped to -38 C! Let my little dog out to pee and he ran right out and ran right back in and I swear I heard him muttering " no damn way!"
 

Devi said:
So, -38 C appears to be -36.4 F (according to my converter). Colder than our approximately -23 F.

So, what do you do with the dog when it's too cold?
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You're right on the conversion....did you know though, that our -40 is the same as your -40? Weird isn't it?

As far as the dog, well, he got kicked right back out and he peed really, really fast and zoomed back in. To do his other business, because that takes them longer to do, particularly if he's got to look for the right spot, so in the spare room we have a fenced in area with pee pads down and when it's his time to go, he gets stuck in there til he's done his business. His timing is pretty consistent so it's easily doable.
 
@seadoug I have done all the things I can. I don't have a beautiful yard,like yours, so no worry about the plants.

Food is stocked as usual. If I lose power will be okay, I have a gas fireplace and a gas grill for warming or cooking.

The big dog is loving the cold weather. He goes out with no problem. The two littles insist I come out with them. I think if I am out there they think it is safe for them. They do come running back in when the business done, dive right back in their blankets on the couch.
 
Stay safe, stay covered if you have to be out but turn away from the wind.
Skin cannot handle it this weekend, maybe early next week but believe its
gonna warm back up in a 4-5 day span ahead. Those who heat with Wood,
I miss that heat too. I can't imagine the Propane bills this winter are anything
but discomforting evenings ahead.
 
Just for fun I checked the local weather for the last place I worked in Northern Canada (Tuktoyaktuk; NWT).

Here's the result: Seems it will be an indoor day tonight & tomorrow.
DateDetailed Forecast
TonightClear. Wind southeast 30 km/h. Low minus 34. Wind chill minus 44 this evening and minus 50 overnight. Frostbite in minutes.
Sun, 14 JanClear. Wind southeast 30 km/h. High minus 29. Wind chill minus 51 in the morning and minus 44 in the afternoon. Frostbite in minutes.
 
seadoug said:
I know many of you in other states have been going through freezing weather and heavy snow for a few days now. The Iowa Caucus is on the news because it is the coldest weather they have seen in years.

We are going into below-freezing weather here in Dallas starting tonight and lasting until Wednesday. The last time we went through this, lives were lost because the power grid was not sufficient. Our governor now assures us it will be okay. (No comment.)

Anyway, we covered many of our plants with sheets today, wrapped our outdoor faucets and opened our cabinets and let the faucets drip. What are you experiencing, and what have you done to prepare?
Click to expand...
I will swap you in a heartbeat.
 
Screenshot-2024-01-14-3-54-39-AM.png
 
Such fun when NY warmer than Texas! I believe our climate will become even more moderate, more balanced in this temperate zone than in many other areas. While we have not had snow in two years, and I miss it a bit! our temps have been of better quality than many other places. The winters are relatively warm, in the forties plus.
 
It was 28 degrees when I got up this morning. Not unusual for January. I rarely lose power unless a tree falls on a wire. Living in an apartment building there is not much I can do preparing for bad weather. I block my windows the best I can when we start getting cold weather and they stay that way until spring. I have plenty of warm afghans and clothing for myself and extra rugs and cushions on the floor for my bunny.
 
seadoug said:
I know many of you in other states have been going through freezing weather and heavy snow for a few days now. The Iowa Caucus is on the news because it is the coldest weather they have seen in years.

We are going into below-freezing weather here in Dallas starting tonight and lasting until Wednesday. The last time we went through this, lives were lost because the power grid was not sufficient. Our governor now assures us it will be okay. (No comment.)

Anyway, we covered many of our plants with sheets today, wrapped our outdoor faucets and opened our cabinets and let the faucets drip. What are you experiencing, and what have you done to prepare?
Click to expand...
Ooh, my brother lives outside Dallas. Sending email.........
 
I don’t mind cold weather. Never did. My dad, otoh, said he froze during WWII while in France and he will never be cold again. We grew up in a house where the temperature was set at 75 degrees everyday in the winter. A lot of nights, I would cover up with only a sheet. During the day, dad would walk around the house wearing a sweatshirt and I wore a t-shirt.
 
seadoug said:
I know many of you in other states have been going through freezing weather and heavy snow for a few days now. The Iowa Caucus is on the news because it is the coldest weather they have seen in years.

We are going into below-freezing weather here in Dallas starting tonight and lasting until Wednesday. The last time we went through this, lives were lost because the power grid was not sufficient. Our governor now assures us it will be okay. (No comment.)

Anyway, we covered many of our plants with sheets today, wrapped our outdoor faucets and opened our cabinets and let the faucets drip. What are you experiencing, and what have you done to prepare?
Click to expand...

I know you have it colder up in the Dallas area than we do in Houston. It's cold, but nothing like that. Stay warm @seadoug , and everyone up North.

What is driving me crazy in trying to get ready for a hard freeze, if it gets down here at all .. is really odd ....
I find I have all my winter gear 'ready', but as of last night, I was still running my A/C in my apartment to get it below 70 degrees so I could sleep at night.


It just doesn't make any sense.
I believe this is an example of what they call .. "weather whiplash". ugh.
 
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seadoug said:
I know many of you in other states have been going through freezing weather and heavy snow for a few days now. The Iowa Caucus is on the news because it is the coldest weather they have seen in years.

We are going into below-freezing weather here in Dallas starting tonight and lasting until Wednesday. The last time we went through this, lives were lost because the power grid was not sufficient. Our governor now assures us it will be okay. (No comment.)
'
Anyway, we covered many of our plants with sheets today, wrapped our outdoor faucets and opened our cabinets and let the faucets drip. What are you experiencing, and what have you done to prepare?
Click to expand...
We're your southern Texas neighbor here in the base of the Hill Country, not far from Houston so we drain outside faucets and turn
the valve off inside the garage for them and the close faucets outside after draining. Hook up a 60 watt light bulb in the well house, turn on the big pet electric blanket in the garage where the 2 outdoor live cats at night. Make sure the apt. heat over the garage comes on when the temps get low enough, turn the swimming pool on to keep the pump from freezing.

Lay a good fire in the fireplace, make hot chocolate and get our stack of books out!

Got son & one of his employees coming in Monday night to see a new client and leaving Wednesday so just hoping the grid holds!!!

Up north folks are used to this frigid weather, down here we think it really really sucks...lol.
 
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