# How Cold Is It?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 6, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996 "2014-01-06T03:22:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/1 "2014-01-06T03:22:48Z")
In honor of the “polar vortex” sweeping the USA, I decided to assemble some cold-related info. Cheer up, it could be a lot worse!
```auto
HOW COLD IS IT?
(standard pressure 100 kPA unless stated) Fahrenheit Celsius Kelvin
Fresh water freezes 32 0 273
Sea water freezes 28 -2 271
“Zero” (Fahrenheit Scale) 0 -18 255
Coldest common salt (23% NaCl) brine -6 -21 252
Coldest liquid water under pressure (210 MPa) -8 -22 251
Pure (anhydrous) ammonia liquefies -28 -33 240
Mercury freezes -38 -39 234
Fahrenheit equals Celsius; approximate temperature
at which gasoline becomes too thick to flow -40 -40 233
Pressure in propane tank drops to zero -44 -42 231
Coldest antifreeze (70% weight ethylene glycol) -60 -51 222
Coldest calcium chloride brine -62 -52 221
Lowest recorded temperature in North America
Snag, Yukon -81 -63 210
Lowest recorded temperature in Northern Hemisphere
Oymyakon, Siberia -96 -71 202
Dry ice (solid CO2) at standard pressure;
coldest liquid metal alloy (41% cesium, 12% sodium,
47% potassium) -109 -78 195
Welding gas (acetylene) freezes -119 -84 189
Nitrous oxide liquefies; ethane liquefies -128 -88 184
Lowest recorded temperature on Earth’s surface
Dome Fuji, Antarctica -132 -91 182
Lowest upper atmosphere (mesosphere) temperature -148 -100 173
Undiluted alcohol (ethanol) freezes -173 -114 159
lowest melting point of a room-temperature liquid
(2-Methylpentane) -243 -153 120
Whole Body Cryotherapy chamber -256 -160 113
Natural gas (methane) liquefies -258 -161 112
Oxygen liquefies -297 -183 90
```
---
### Author:  [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/2 "2014-01-06T03:44:44Z")
It’s this cold outside: [ND forecast from Crystal, ND](http://youtu.be/GAq1Ml3PlGc) (NSFW).
Tripler
I know North Dakota. I know cold.
---
### Author:  [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/3 "2014-01-06T19:34:17Z")
It’s negative 11 degrees in mid afternoon here. :eek:
---
### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/4 "2014-01-06T19:39:01Z")
Your numbers may be a little off as Antarctica set a new record low of [-135.8F](http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/12/10/antarctica-sets-low-temperature-record-1358-degrees/).
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/5 "2014-01-06T19:40:02Z")
I’m going to have to bring the propane in from the back porch tonight.
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/6 "2014-01-06T19:43:15Z")
Not too cold, here… Looks like it’s only -2 F.
My mom is panicking, and all the schools are closed, but after over a decade in Montana, it’s hard for me to get worked up.
---
### Author:  [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/7 "2014-01-06T19:45:30Z")
It’s - 15, which is the high for today. Lake Michigan is steaming (at least it was this morning) because it’s so warm compared to the air temp. Kinda neato.
---
### Author:  [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/8 "2014-01-06T19:47:27Z")
Its warmed up to -11F in Cowtown IL. The furnace hasnt stopped running continuously since last night. At least its still running!
---
### Author:  [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/9 "2014-01-06T20:13:43Z")
It’s 24 here in West Georgia, and will be 10 when I leave for work in the morning. That’s _cold_ to us! The weather channel says it will feel like -20 tonight with the wind chill! :eek:
---
### Author:  [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/10 "2014-01-06T20:39:59Z")
Well, it’s -2F at 3 pm here. That, for me, qualifies as well-digger’s tits, witch’s balls, and/or brass monkey’s ass cold. 😛
---
### Author:  [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/11 "2014-01-06T21:35:27Z")
It’s cold enough here in Wisconsin that the local female Wiccans have donned non-metallic foundation garments.
---
### Author:  [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/12 "2014-01-06T22:47:56Z")
What do thermometers use when they can’t use mercury past -38 degrees?
---
### Author:  [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/13 "2014-01-06T23:10:27Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#):
>
> Its warmed up to -11F in Cowtown IL. The furnace hasnt stopped running continuously since last night. At least its still running!
Well, Cowtown describes a whole lot of Illinois!
In my part of Illinois it’s about -8°. It will drop another 7° or so tonight, and then start warming up. We may see 40° by the weekend. It will be balmy.
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/14 "2014-01-06T23:19:50Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#):
>
> What do thermometers use when they can’t use mercury past -38 degrees?
Perhaps a Galilean thermometer of some sort.
According to Jack London, how quickly spit freezes in the air.
How penguins float in salt brine.
---
### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/15 "2014-01-06T23:50:29Z")
It is currently -8F (-22 C) here in Southeastern Michigan.
However, it has been rapidly dropping the last 4 hours or so. It was -2 an hour ago, so it is coming on down.
---
### Author:  [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/16 "2014-01-06T23:57:20Z")
My assistant news director was asking us today “any interesting visual ‘it’s damn cold out there’ ideas for tv tomorrow?” He was thinking of freezing a wet t-shirt.
Any thoughts? (This will be in DC, expecting 5 tonight / tomorrow morning, high 18 tomorrow)
---
### Author:  [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/17 "2014-01-06T23:58:23Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#):
>
> What do thermometers use when they can’t use mercury past -38 degrees?
Well nowadays thermometers are mostly electronic. If you mean the old-fashioned column of liquid type, ordinary alcohol is good for any temperatures people are likely to encounter.
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/18 "2014-01-06T23:59:37Z")
> [@2gigch1](#):
>
> My assistant news director was asking us today “any interesting visual ‘it’s damn cold out there’ ideas for tv tomorrow?” He was thinking of freezing a wet t-shirt.
>
> Any thoughts? (This will be in DC, expecting 5 tonight / tomorrow morning, high 18 tomorrow)
Blow soap bubbles and watch them freeze.
Oh, let me know if the girl in the frozen T shirt needs help warming up. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/19 "2014-01-07T00:16:01Z")
Its -7F right now in Columbus, OH. Wind cgill of -30. Not as cold as many, but certainly not pleasant.
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-cold-is-it/677996/20 "2014-01-07T00:44:05Z")
> [@Jman](#):
>
> Its -7F right now in Columbus, OH. Wind cgill of -30. Not as cold as many, but certainly not pleasant.
In areas where it regularly becomes very cold, is the plumbing protected so that you do not have to leave water running?
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