Twin Cities Residents underdress during the record cold (Minneapolis: house, live in)

[I'm Retired Now]

One thing I noticed about the Twin Cities residents I see outside in below ZERO weather is how few of them really are dressed warmly. Many don't have a true winter coat and only a small percent were wearing a hat. (Most hats were only baseball style hats that really did not protect their ears.) I saw very few people with stocking caps.

So the kids are off on Monday but adults still have to go to work and many are waiting at the bus stop without a warm jacket, a hat or gloves in wind chills under 30 BELOW.

What's up?

[golfgal]

I think in the cold you see Monday you will see a different picture but not everyone feels the cold in the same way. I rarely wear a hat, hate them, but if I were going to be outside for more than it takes to walk from my car into a building I would wear a hood at least. I always wear gloves/mittens though in the winter. Last winter I actually wore my winter coat maybe a dozen times, but I usually had it in my car.

[rzzz]

I have seen the opposite most places I've been out and about this winter. A lot of people wearing stocking hats, face masks, scarves, etc. I personally rarely wear a hat unless I'm walking a long way or it's -5F or below.

[Lafferty Daniel]

Large Russian fur hat. Check.

Choppers. Check.

No shorts. Check.

I'm ready.

[jzeig104]

people tolerate cold differently when they live in a climate for a period of time. what seems cold to our southern neighbors is balmy to us. i doubt if you will see peope running around in baseball caps on Monday.

[Kamsack]

Originally Posted by jzeig104

people tolerate cold differently when they live in a climate for a period of time. what seems cold to our southern neighbors is balmy to us. i doubt if you will see peope running around in baseball caps on Monday.

I agree....while my co-workers bundle up just to go outside for a minute or two I normally just grab a light jacket..... Outside of sledding, shoveling or snow blowing, I rarely wear gloves/hat, but tha'ts me.

[Mr Maps]

This is a purely American phenomenon.

Between car commute and work/home/shopping, people spend little time walking outside. Hence no winter coats necessary.

[Mr. In-Between]

For many of us who have grown up and lived most of our lives in the Upper Midwest, we're just acclimated to it. As long as the wind isn't blowing, it just doesn't feel that cold unless we're out there in it for an extended period of time. We just don't perceive it as uncomfortable. I grew up in North Central Wisconsin, in a lowlying area on the edge of one of the largest marshes in the state, and cold air settled into the depression. Our house was regularly 7 - 10 degrees colder than the temperatures in town, and we were always active outdoors in the winter - taking care of the animals, snowmobiling, hiking, cross country skiing, etc. In my adult years, I spent many hours each week winter hiking both in the Metro area and the North Shore of Lake Superior. If I was just standing 10 or 15 minutes at a bus stop in downtown Minneapolis, I didn't even notice it was cold. It's just nothing, in comparison.

This is a short thread, but I've already noticed several other native northerners expressing similar sentiments. I'm curious - those of you who feel the same as I do, do you notice a difference between dry cold and damp cold? Because I really do. If it's below zero and dry, I'm completely comfortable - but if it's damp outside, I'm not leaving the house without a jacket any time it gets much under 30 degrees. 10 below and dry, I feel fine; 25 and damp, and I'm freezing. That cold, damp air just cuts through like a knife. Anyone else notice that?

[Kamsack]

Originally Posted by Albert_The_Crocodile

For many of us who have grown up and lived most of our lives in the Upper Midwest, we're just acclimated to it. As long as the wind isn't blowing, it just doesn't feel that cold unless we're out there in it for an extended period of time. We just don't perceive it as uncomfortable. I grew up in North Central Wisconsin, in a lowlying area on the edge of one of the largest marshes in the state, and cold air settled into the depression. Our house was regularly 7 - 10 degrees colder than the temperatures in town, and we were always active outdoors in the winter - taking care of the animals, snowmobiling, hiking, cross country skiing, etc. In my adult years, I spent many hours each week winter hiking both in the Metro area and the North Shore of Lake Superior. If I was just standing 10 or 15 minutes at a bus stop in downtown Minneapolis, I didn't even notice it was cold. It's just nothing, in comparison.

This is a short thread, but I've already noticed several other native northerners expressing similar sentiments. I'm curious - those of you who feel the same as I do, do you notice a difference between dry cold and damp cold? Because I really do. If it's below zero and dry, I'm completely comfortable - but if it's damp outside, I'm not leaving the house without a jacket any time it gets much under 30 degrees. 10 below and dry, I feel fine; 25 and damp, and I'm freezing. That cold, damp air just cuts through like a knife. Anyone else notice that?

I am similar to you...yes I do feel a difference. A cold raw southerly wind bringing up moisture in the winter is way way worse than a northwesterly dry wind. It can be 20 degrees warmer with a south wind in the winter but to me it feels colder.

[Kamsack]

Originally Posted by Mr Maps

This is a purely American phenomenon.

Between car commute and work/home/shopping, people spend little time walking outside. Hence no winter coats necessary.

I agree.... in short trips to/from work or in/out stores to car and back....it makes little sense to me to overdress and sit in the car burning up hot. I'd rather keep it simple and just wear a comfortable jacket. Always keep gloves/hat, etc in car in case....but in day to day operations dont use them. Even today (Sun) up here in Grand Forks when I left work at 4pm it was 20 below and wind chill -50 I started my car remotely got into with a light jacket, then got gas....hoped outside to run the card and put nozzle in, got back in car as it filled, then out to remove nozzle and get receipt and then back in. So in most days, way more time in a car than outside, so just enough warmth to make it through those few times is all that is needed for me at least. But I am very cold tolerant and always seem hot, so it doesnt bother me as it does some.

That said, of course, if I know I will be outside shoveling, blowing or taking the kids sledding, then of course dress way differently.