Kind of sucks...we got about 4" of snow yesterday and today it's -9 F. Normally we don't get this kind of cold til January if at all. Can't remember the last time it was below zero in November (this year it happened twice).

I'm gonna have to get on the truck preps a little early. The basics are covered: heavy jumper cables, floor jack, 4-way wrench, two flashlights with lithium batteries (to survive cold like tonite!), two jackets (neither really heavy, but layers) a couple pairs of gloves and a couple spare stocking caps. I also have some traction mats but I need to get another 250 lbs of sandbags for my 3/4 ton Chevy truck.

Today I was at Costco and they had a two-pack of neat looking collapsible aluminum shovels. Nothing you'd want to shovel your driveway with but probably good enough to dig out a car. Might have to grab a pack of them next time.

Lastly I got gas. That's one of the biggest winter preps for me. I'm one of those guys that fights the tendency to get $10 worth of gas three times a week! But I've been getting gas once a week on my day off lately, mostly due to getting a Costco card. It was $110 so I gotta use it all I can!

The first blast of winter is always a shock to the system. It's takes some physical and mental adjustment. Up here, the boom dropped about a month ago up here. One day I was running the big lawn tractor, blowing leaves into piles. The next day, I was running the snowblower so that we could get up the driveway.

The second blast of winter is also a shocker. It's when an arctic high slumps down and the temperature tanks. This morning it's -32C with a windchill of -45C.

Just to add, this is unusual for November here also. Usually we get the second cold blast well into January. Last night dropped to -38C with windchill of -48C. Sheesh! Fortunately the temps are more moderate today.


Good job adding weight. I see too many guys with fancy pickup trucks and no weight in the back. Usually they pass me on the highway, driving too aggressively for the conditions. When they hit an icy patch on the highway, the back end swings out and they are toast, 4x4 or not. You can see it coming. If they're lucky they stay shiny side up. I wave as I drive by.


By the way, what's this I hear about an ice storm in Texas?

OK... just so you know what we trade for an occasional hurricane or so... it was 78F yesterday... I've been fighting a cold for a couple of days, so spent a 1/2 hour in the sun with my shirt off ... felt I needed a little Vitamin D... Interstate highways with odd numbers run north and south...we complain about snowbirds, but a few more won't be noticed..

Haha, not ready to join the blue rinse set yet. But I can see the attraction. Our winters have their beauty (it's picture postcard perfect outside my window) but they're too long. It wears on you after a while. Lots of retired folks disappear south for 2-3 months after Christmas, returning for spring.

Actually, I'm finally getting acclimatized. If I got hit with 78F at 100% humidity I'd probably keel over from the shock.

Nothing fancy about my Chevy, it's an '88! I agree about winter- a little is okay but this is my 44th SD winter and they really drag on. Just when you can't stand another minute of it you get six or seven more weeks.

doug... on the flip side, this past summer's heat was brutal, the worst I can remember...my pistol club has been trying to get a 3 gun match up and running, using a .22lr for the rifle portion so we can shoot on a 35y pistol range... and after the June match had to postpone until October

when you can't get out and do something it's even worse.i have a bum knee and even the dog walk at 2F is a major pain.
younger i would gather some gear,stove,snack,cocoa,sleeping pad to sit on and be off on my skis or snowshoes for the day.
i can see why "old folks" head south...lets not talk about the 4:30 dark!


this is a few years ago of course!!!

"This morning it's -32C with a windchill of -45C."
Thank God I don't live in Canada!
Thank God I don't live in Canada!
Thank you, Jesus; I don't live in Canada!

Depends on where you live in Canada. Here it is a balmy -2C at 4:00 am which is about typical for this time of year. Daytime highs should be in the 5-6C (40F) range.