Althouse: The grandeur of extreme cold.

January 18, 2026

The grandeur of extreme cold.

The numerical reality:

Meade's interpretation:

64 comments:

JZ said...: Majestic and obviously cold as…; 1/18/26, 9:50 AM
rehajm said...: There’s no dash in front of the number so still good…though it looks like Hoth. I lovely morning to take out the tauntaun…; 1/18/26, 10:06 AM
R C Belaire said...: It's colder in Celsius -- at least for a while.; 1/18/26, 10:10 AM
T J Sawyer said...: I'm sure it feels awful!; 1/18/26, 10:15 AM
Yancey Ward said...: It has been much colder here in TN the last 3 winters than any of the previous 11 I had spent here since moving to the state in 2011-2012. These last three winters are very similar to the ones I grew up with the mid 70s-early 80s just a bit further north in Kentucky. I hope Global Warming hasn't abandoned us.; 1/18/26, 10:17 AM
Old and slow said...: The outdoor temperature displayed in my car this morning was also 1. Fortunately, it was in Celsius, so I could still run in shorts.; 1/18/26, 10:20 AM
Mr. D said...: We're hoping the cold snap deters some of the bad behavior in Minnesota, but it might be a forlorn hope.; 1/18/26, 10:21 AM
Lazarus said...: One must have a mind of winter
Blah, blah, blah, blah ...; 1/18/26, 10:21 AM
Beasts of England said...: There are warmer states available for your consideration.; 1/18/26, 10:22 AM
Jim Gust said...: What was that music?; 1/18/26, 10:31 AM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: We decided in 2012 NO MORE COLD for us, moved south, run and sun all year round. I'll be cold when im in the box waiting for final resurrection for the remainder of this life WARMTH keeps us enjoying weather that keeps our bodies and souls flexible ,limber and comfortable. I like snow in Pictures!! Sitting in a tree in the dark, waiting for the day to begin in cold snow filled areas during Deer Season days are long over. To each their own.; 1/18/26, 10:31 AM
Iman said...: Boil a pot of water, take it out on your porch, toss it in the air and watch it turn to ice crystals… for good luck.; 1/18/26, 10:33 AM
Iman said...: Shooting deer from a tree stand is about as “sporting” as tossing one off… having a wank.; 1/18/26, 10:35 AM
bagoh20 said...: Good weather for storing meat outside.
That's about it.; 1/18/26, 10:35 AM
mikee said...: Here in Austin, Texas, we had our first below freezing night of the winter just last night. Had to haul all the fragile potted flowers off the patio into the house. The water in the bird bath froze over, had to bust the ice for the birdies this morning. The squirrels were ravenous for peanuts and sunflower seeds, the Cardinals were voracious at the feeder. And the Canna Lilies left in the big pots out back all turned winter brown overnight in the cold. Hopefully the mosquito population took a severe hit, too.; 1/18/26, 10:36 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Wind chill happens on bare skin, so the key is to cover as much of your face as you can. Obviously, you're going to wear a warm coat, pants, mittens, socks and boots and a hat. Just make sure you also tie a wool scarf around as much of your face as you can.

Meade uses these hand warmers: https://amzn.to/4sRhnos
And toe warmers: https://amzn.to/4sJIDF8

Commission earned. Product is highly recommended!

I went out too, by the way.; 1/18/26, 10:41 AM
john mosby said...: Mr D: "We're hoping the cold snap deters some of the bad behavior in Minnesota, but it might be a forlorn hope."

The problem is you have professional enforcers on one side, and local Scandi-descended people on the other. So they'll be out there no matter the weather, while the Global Southern people they're fighting over watch it from inside the learing centers...

Ah-ah-aah, ah! Ah-ah-aah, ah!
We come from the land of the ICE and snow
From the midnight sun where the Trumpers blow
Hammer of the gods will drive our Fords to new lands
To fight the horde and sing and cry
Jacob Frey, I am coming
On we sweep with chrome-ed bore
Our only goal the Mississippi shore
Ah-ah-aah, ah! Ah-ah-aah, ah!
We come from the land of the ICE and snow
From the midnight sun where the Trumpers blow
How soft your party green can whisper tales of Gore
How we deport the spawn of war
They're not our overlords
On we sweep with chrome-ed bore
Our only goal the Mississippi shore
So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins
For Trump and Noem can win the day despite of all your losing...&c

CC, JSM; 1/18/26, 10:44 AM
Achilles said...: bagoh20 said...

Good weather for storing meat outside.
That's about it.

It freezes our chicken eggs.

I was promised global warming. This is crap.; 1/18/26, 10:44 AM
Aggie said...: We've had some light frosts previously, where the tender plants got hit but the hardier ones persevered - but we finally got the hard freeze last night. Moved all the plants into the alaskalite porch yesterday. Declared war on the squirrels, raccoons, and possums that have been raiding my bird feeders though - they've become brazen and ungovernable, so now, by God my resolve has hardened. Filled all the feeders yesterday in anticipation of the snap, and added a liberal sprinkling of capsicum, cayenne pepper throughout the seed. Taking a note from MN, it's our own form of crowd control out here in the rural areas, for undocumented varmints. They're not happy this morning, but my inventory is.; 1/18/26, 10:46 AM
Ann Althouse said...: I wasn't cold at all, btw.

It was fine. Just dress properly.

Being afraid to go out in the cold is really a shame. It looks bad when you see the number, but if you dress properly and get out, it's quite grand... especially at sunrise.

Meade was delighted by how red a cardinal looked in the snow this morning. Yesterday, I was charmed by a chickadee.

I'd like to think the most beautiful things are close by for everyone. I can't imagine any other place that could be more beautiful for us, but you must know where to go near where you are. How can you miss the sunrise? How can you miss the chance to experience extreme cold?; 1/18/26, 10:48 AM
Achilles said...: Yancey Ward said...

It has been much colder here in TN the last 3 winters than any of the previous 11 I had spent here since moving to the state in 2011-2012. These last three winters are very similar to the ones I grew up with the mid 70s-early 80s just a bit further north in Kentucky. I hope Global Warming hasn't abandoned us.

The first year I moved down here in 2020 we had the first winter where water pipes started freezing. I remember locals complaining that this never happens. I helped several people fix broken water pipes.

Now it is freezing every year.

It is almost as if people are lying to us about something.; 1/18/26, 10:48 AM
bagoh20 said...: We took the boat out on the lake last week. Sunny, 70 degrees, no wind. Not normal for January, but common. We cruised around, landed on an Island and explored a little, let the dog run. Coyotes are rare on the islands. Then we stopped at the dock and had an outdoor lunch and Moscow Mules, which might be named after a hockey team. I lived for 21 years in that northern cold, and I could never endure it again. I miss the trees, but too much time lost looking out the window waiting. I do love having a real fire in the fireplace which we still do every night. Doing our part to support global warming.; 1/18/26, 10:48 AM
Meade said...: Jim Gust said...
What was that music?

https://youtu.be/YXw_GjEWFi8?si=9mCxuoUeLr5rlp83; 1/18/26, 10:49 AM
Paul said...: Suck it up... just pray for 'climate change/global warming'...; 1/18/26, 10:54 AM
Christopher B said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/18/26, 10:59 AM
Christopher B said...: Yancey, it's plenty cold here in Kentucky too.

We moved to Louisville in September 2013 and there was a bit of a cold snap that winter. Being from Iowa we weren't particularly concerned about single digits above zero until we remembered that houses don't get insulated here like they do where we're from.

In the "it's not the heat it's the humidity' vein, this winter seems to have been particularly brutal for wild swings in temperature. I was walking the dog in shirt sleeves just before New Years but today my fingers were getting numb even in the heavy gloves.; 1/18/26, 11:01 AM
rehajm said...: …my place looks like Dagobah, not Hoth, so I miss a few sun rises/sets; 1/18/26, 11:01 AM
Mason G said...: I'm in Idaho and it's been a rather mild winter so far. Typically, lows are in the teens or low 20s but so far, there's been no snow with lows around 30. So- it's warm(ish) here.; 1/18/26, 11:01 AM
tcrosse said...: For my sins, I lived many years in the Twin Cities. There were days when the high temperature was below zero. Lunchtimes at work we would go out and run the car for a while, to ensure that it would start when it was time to go home.; 1/18/26, 11:03 AM
Howard said...: Warm today in center Mass. High 20's. Shoveled the driveway and car park in shorts T-shirt and sandals.; 1/18/26, 11:08 AM
Howard said...: More snow coming this afternoon, Allah willing.; 1/18/26, 11:09 AM
Beasts of England said...: ’How can you miss the chance to experience extreme cold?’

It’s 26° here with strong gusts, so I consider that extreme cold. I stopped by the causeway for a few minutes to watch one of the pro anglers who was working the riprap. I had on appropriate clothing, although my hands and face were exposed. I lasted less than five minutes, but it was an experience. :); 1/18/26, 11:10 AM
Original Mike said...: "It’s 26° here with strong gusts, so I consider that extreme cold."

It's objectively not.; 1/18/26, 11:11 AM
Original Mike said...: "Lunchtimes at work we would go out and run the car for a while, to ensure that it would start when it was time to go home."

One of the amazing things about living in the future is that cars just start now, no matter the temperature. Starting a cold car used to be a skill. Now, they just start. Computers and fuel injection, I imagine.; 1/18/26, 11:14 AM
donald said...: I’m worried about fish kills. 13” of snow and sub freezing temperatures for a week or more killed basically 85% of the
Mullet, redfish and specks (what I see most) and the baitfish last January. I officiate with a guy who researches for CCA, so that number should be accurate . It hit 32 in Gulf Shores this morning and there were snowflakes on the weather channel. Fortunately that was incorrect. I hate cold weather and can never believe people choose to live in it.; 1/18/26, 11:15 AM
Temujin said...: At 11:00 I was at the grocery here in Sarasota. It was around 75°. It's 12:30 now and the temp has dropped 23° in the last hour and a half to 52, as a storm front moved through.
Whatever you guys are tossing down at us, cut it out.; 1/18/26, 11:31 AM
gilbar said...: only a loser from Wisconsin would (COULD!) consider positive numbers to be: "extreme cold"
if the Negative numbers are single digits, it's just cold.
Pretty Sure Extreme cold is about -20 or colder; 1/18/26, 11:37 AM
Nancy said...: Thank you Meade! That gave me chills! So to speak.

I used to say "I only go out running when the temperature has 2 digits. And it can't have a minus sign in front." That was when I lived in the Boston area when temps <10 and >99 were both problematic. But I'm older now and have greatly reduced the acceptable range.; 1/18/26, 11:49 AM
Original Mike said...: "Pretty Sure Extreme cold is about -20 or colder"

That's where I'd put it.; 1/18/26, 11:54 AM
Iman said...: “Hammer of the gods will drive our Fords to new lands”

Just make sure they’re not equipped with the ECOBoost engines!

Excellent, Mr. Mosby!; 1/18/26, 12:08 PM
JES said...: Beautiful. I was sleeping but have heard we had a few snow flurries here on the Gulf of America last night. Glad I didn't see it. I like the sunrise glistening on the water rather than on the snow.; 1/18/26, 12:19 PM
JK Brown said...: Nice rising of the only heat source for the earth other than nuclear. Wind, solar, fossil fuel, hydro, all powered by the sun. Even geothermal is very old solar energy.; 1/18/26, 12:35 PM
Original Mike said...: "Even geothermal is very old solar energy."

That's not correct. Geothermal is energy from the formation of the Earth (gravitational collapse of the primordial gas that formed the Earth plus the kinetic energy of other bodies striking the Earth), and energy from nuclear decay of radioactive elements incorporated into the Earth at its formation.; 1/18/26, 12:46 PM
Yancey Ward said...: "so the key is to cover as much of your face as you can."

You run the risk of being mistaken for an ICE agent, though.; 1/18/26, 1:00 PM
Joe Bar said...: Meade said...
Jim Gust said...
What was that music?

https://youtu.be/YXw_GjEWFi8?si=9mCxuoUeLr5rlp8

I thought I recognized it. re-watched that recently with the SIL.; 1/18/26, 1:33 PM
Smilin' Jack said...: “How can you miss the sunrise? How can you miss the chance to experience extreme cold?”

The sun also sets. And if you “dress properly” (Hand warmers? Toe warmers? Really?) you’re not experiencing anything. Start the day with an ice plunge, like Rogan.; 1/18/26, 1:37 PM
Caroline said...: Good God, it’s Sunday! Don’t you people ever have a lie-in?; 1/18/26, 1:58 PM
BG said...: gilbar said...
only a loser from Wisconsin would (COULD!) consider positive numbers to be: "extreme cold"
if the Negative numbers are single digits, it's just cold.
Pretty Sure Extreme cold is about -20 or colder

Remember, gilbar, that Althouse wasn't born in Wisconsin. Native Wisconsinites know we haven't had a good ol' fashioned cold winter in years. I remember when having a few days of highs in the negative teens and twenties as a normal winter occurrence.; 1/18/26, 2:04 PM
john mosby said...: Thanks, Iman! CC, JSM; 1/18/26, 2:08 PM
BG said...: Meade...music like that makes me imagine a warrior (knight?) wrapped in furs, cantering on his Friesan across the lake towards me. (Yeah, coming out from the Capitol. "rolleyes"). Anyway, it should have been a dog sled but I'm a horse person.; 1/18/26, 2:09 PM
Clyde said...: Beautiful, and I like the music, too. But I'm glad I'm not up there. It was beastly cold on Friday morning (down to 38 degrees at home at 5 a.m. leaving for work) and is going to be about the same tomorrow as we had another cold front come through and drop our temperatures from 77 to 64 within a few hours. Fortunately, tomorrow is a holiday and I don't have to go outside in the morning, but I will definitely be drinking some hot cocoa.; 1/18/26, 3:40 PM
bagoh20 said...: The original source of all energy is gravity, except that big bang thing. That was Tannerite, and God used an AR-15 to start things. Bless us all.; 1/18/26, 3:50 PM
Jim Gust said...: Meade, thank you for the followup on the music. I thought it sounded like Hans Zimmer, but I have not seen The Pacific miniseries.; 1/18/26, 4:29 PM
Original Mike said...: "The original source of all energy is gravity, except that big bang thing."

Don't be so hasty on that big bang thing, either.; 1/18/26, 4:56 PM
HistoryDoc said...: Here in NorCal I played golf Saturday and today. Sunny, low 40's at the start, but warmed by 10 AM, and the layers came off.

Frozen tundra not for me, though relations who moved to Minneapolis learned to adapt.; 1/18/26, 5:51 PM
Assistant Village Idiot said...: gilbar to the contrary, this shows the superiority of Fahrenheit for human weather. 80 is hot, 100 is Too Damn Hot. 20 is cold, 0 is Too Damn Cold. I lost my NH bragging rights when Son #3 moved to Nome, though. They went home from Orlando into -30 last week. He's fine, 3 girls are fine. Filipina wife isn't thrilled.; 1/18/26, 7:30 PM
Mason G said...: Internet meme:

Fahrenheit: 0- really cold outside, 100- really hot outside
Celsius: 0- fairly cold outside, 100- dead
Kelvin: 0- dead, 100- dead; 1/18/26, 9:32 PM
dicentra63 said...: Take this down immediately.

It's illegal to publish a video demonstrating absolute cold without Vivaldi's "Winter" as the background music.; 1/18/26, 9:42 PM
Curious George said...: "Just make sure they’re not equipped with the ECOBoost engines!" I have the 2.7l EcoBoost in my F-150. It's been great. The 2.0l ones are trash though.; 1/18/26, 11:24 PM
Josephbleau said...: “ Good God, it’s Sunday! Don’t you people ever have a lie-in?”

It depends, on who is posting.; 1/19/26, 12:27 AM
Rustygrommet said...: Iman said...
"Shooting deer from a tree stand is about as “sporting” as tossing one off… having a wank."

Have you ever done it?
Most people can't sit alone with their own thoughts for five minutes. Now try that and be super alert from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.; 1/19/26, 10:41 AM
Rustygrommet said...: Josephbleau said...
“ Good God, it’s Sunday! Don’t you people ever have a lie-in?”

Depends. You offering?

It's zero here. Went out and got the drifted snow off the driveway. Not too bad. Layer up.; 1/19/26, 10:49 AM
Rustygrommet said...: Music. From "Band of Brothers".; 1/19/26, 10:50 AM
Grundoon said...: I once described moderate winter weather to a native Texan as temperatures between zero and 30 F. I couldn't sell it.

I have decided my favorite summer temperature is 72 F, and my favorite winter temperature is 20 F, cold enough so there is no slush but easy to dress for if your wardrobe goes down to minus 20.; 1/19/26, 3:18 PM