What’s the coldest temperature you’ve had to work in?

[Chuck C]

After seeing Trad whine about cold temps in Florida, it got me thinking about being outside in the cold. I know a lot of you guys are desk jockeys, so probably don’t experience the joy of working outside in a Midwest winter.

For me, it was about 10 years ago in the middle of winter up in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. I don’t remember what the temp was, but the wind chill was -40F. We were working off a JLG lift, about 100 feet up in the air too. I had a full beard at the time, and ice crystals formed immediately on the stache and mouth covering.

I’m old and gray now, don’t mind the boogies in the nose, that can’t be helped. This was just after about a minute outside.

 

[QChawks]

probably 68 degrees in the office

 

[Rifler]

Snow removal at -20 F is probably the worst I've got....

 

[Twoooooooo]

Working on a jlg which most likely had a steel platform…brutal. Never that cold working out side for myself. But when lines would freeze even with antifreeze and saws whining like they want to die. It was time to stop. Would put it at -10-15 below for myself. I don’t miss framing in the Midwest in the winter at all.

 

[ICWestfan]

I had a buddy of mine that did concrete flatwork, think warehouses, down in Florida. He told me the coldest he has ever been and the hottest he has ever been was working outdoors in Florida in the winter and summer. He was from Iowa.

 

[Sharky1203]

In the early 90's for the Marine Corps, I did a cold weather training in Norway in January. Warmest it was the 18 days we were there was -48 deg, someone said it was -72 one night. And those aren't windshield temps either.

 

[McLovin32]

Never had to work outside in the cold, with the clear exception being just snow removal around the house. But the coldest I've ever been was a night that a buddy and I went ice fishing back somewhere between 2016-2019, I can't remember the exact time. But we met out at Pleasant Creek at like 7PM to do some ice fishing. It was brutally cold, wind chill had to be around -20-30. He had a couple heaters and a nice ice shelter so we were able to warm up once we got everything set up. But when we packed up around midnight, we had some issues and were out in the wind much longer than we planned. It was probably about 20-30 mins that we were out there w/ no shelter. By the time we got back to our vehicles, I couldn't use either one of my hands and was shaking profusely. My buddy had to turn on my vehicle and waited with me until I got warmed up and was actually able to drive. I was truly scared at that point. But then I got warmed up and was alright. I learned that night that if I'm gonna go ice fishing in shit weather like that, I need to get some heavy duty cold weather gear. But that was easily the coldest I've ever been/csb

 

[DeangeloVickers]

Worked part time during college framing houses... we had multiple days of sub -30 wind chill where the boss wouldn't let us leave. It hardened my resolve to not build houses for a living that's for sure.

 

[franklinman]

Thule Greenland AF base, had to change the generator on the C-130 outside 18' in the air. No room in a hangar, 22 below 0 with strong winds and wearing field jackets. It took 45 minutes from start to finish. To top it off, they brought us out a ground space heater that just added to the wind. Christmas eve 1964, ho ho ho.

 

[GOHOX69]

I am grateful for the people who work outside and safety and law enforcement who do their jobs in shit conditions. @jamesvanderwulf tip of the hat to you and your comrades.

I'm a pussy who has driven in minus 20 weather and has my own office with recliner, couch and two espresso machines. I also have a private shower. Who am I to complain?

 

[southlakehawk]

Not work, but the 1986nIowa-Minnesota football game at Kinnick. Hawks won and went to the Rose Bowl ( Ronnie Harmon Game...ugh) was freaking cold !! My copenhagen spit deposit would freeze in about 20 seconds. Solid pond by the end of the game !! Iowa-Colorado game in 1991 maybe?? Couldn't make it to Iowa City because of the blizzard that hit the state!! About 300 people at the game. Sat on the west side of the stadium...not one soul in the east stands..Carried beers in my carhart onesie and stuffed beers in the snow banks in the stadium !! Eric Benemie ( Buffs RB) was a bad man !! 🤣 🤣

 

[GOHOX69]

Not work, but the 1986nIowa-Minnesota football game at Kinnick. Hawks won and went to the Rose Bowl ( Ronnie Harmon Game...ugh) was freaking cold !! My copenhagen spit deposit would freeze in about 20 seconds. Solid pond by the end of the game !! Iowa-Colorado game in 1991 maybe?? Couldn't make it to Iowa City because of the blizzard that hit the state!! About 300 people at the game. Sat on the west side of the stadium...not one soul in the east stands..Carried beers in my carhart onesie and stuffed beers in the snow banks in the stadium !! Eric Benemie ( Buffs RB) was a bad man !! 🤣 🤣

I remember that one. Was their quarterback Fogge or something? Ricky fogge?

 

[DogBoyRy]

Never had to work outside in the cold, with the clear exception being just snow removal around the house. But the coldest I've ever been was a night that a buddy and I went ice fishing back somewhere between 2016-2019, I can't remember the exact time. But we met out at Pleasant Creek at like 7PM to do some ice fishing. It was brutally cold, wind chill had to be around -20-30. He had a couple heaters and a nice ice shelter so we were able to warm up once we got everything set up. But when we packed up around midnight, we had some issues and were out in the wind much longer than we planned. It was probably about 20-30 mins that we were out there w/ no shelter. By the time we got back to our vehicles, I couldn't use either one of my hands and was shaking profusely. My buddy had to turn on my vehicle and waited with me until I got warmed up and was actually able to drive. I was truly scared at that point. But then I got warmed up and was alright. I learned that night that if I'm gonna go ice fishing in shit weather like that, I need to get some heavy duty cold weather gear. But that was easily the coldest I've ever been/csb

Ice fishing in iowa is beyond dumb.
Zero edible fish.

 

[DogBoyRy]

I remember that one. Was their quarterback Fogge or something? Ricky fogge?

You’re probably thinking Iowa vs minny.

 

[fan_4_life]

Feeding cattle during the winter in Northern Iowa can lead to some cold temps. Coldest I can remember is -35 real temp with -58 wind chill. Had a cattle waterer freeze up and was working on the water supply line, valve broke and sprayed water on my coveralls. Coveralls didn't even get wet, just froze to ice immediately.

 

[Ferentz_Fan]

When younger and working at a meat processing plant worked days in 40 degree temps, not bad since the work could still make one sweat. Occasional blast freezer was -50 I think. Have had to shovel in the coldest if Iowa winters, no biggie if wardrobe was appropriate.

 

[Whiskeydeltadeltatango]

I plowed snow that night last year where we got like 8-10 inches and it was like -30 wind chill. That was dumb and took years off my life. As a hunter there is cold and there is "I'm immediatly in an emergency situation if anything bad happens" cold. That night was emergency level cold.

 

[SL Hawk Fan]

Probably -10 to -20 windchill. Back in the early 90’s when I was still doing financial statement audits. Had to travel around central Illinois during a blizzard, basically counting combines at about 10 different JD implement dealers.

 

[McLovin32]

Ice fishing in iowa is beyond dumb.
Zero edible fish.

Fresh yellow perch is one of my favorite fish to eat. Absolutely delicious.

 

[HawkMachine]

Probs working on the farm when I was a kid.

Office job nowadays.

 

[CaboKP]

Feeding cattle during the winter in Northern Iowa can lead to some cold temps. Coldest I can remember is -35 real temp with -58 wind chill. Had a cattle waterer freeze up and was working on the water supply line, valve broke and sprayed water on my coveralls. Coveralls didn't even get wet, just froze to ice immediately.

Feeding cattle is also my coldest. Many cold days doing work on the farm.

The most recent was changing a flat tire when snow was falling at a high rate. I had an old 88 ranger, had a hell of a time breaking the lug nuts loose, they had an thin aluminum cover over them. I had a couple break, so the socket didn't fit any longer. I still have one lugnut wedged into a socket.

After I finally got the spare from under the truck, installed it, dropped the jack and I could hear a hissing from the tire. I got in fast and hauled my ass home. 2 tires needed replaced.

CSB

 

[Dr. Phil Seuss]

After seeing Trad whine about cold temps in Florida, it got me thinking about being outside in the cold. I know a lot of you guys are desk jockeys, so probably don’t experience the joy of working outside in a Midwest winter.

For me, it was about 10 years ago in the middle of winter up in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. I don’t remember what the temp was, but the wind chill was -40F. We were working off a JLG lift, about 100 feet up in the air too. I had a full beard at the time, and ice crystals formed immediately on the stache and mouth covering.

I’m old and gray now, don’t mind the boogies in the nose, that can’t be helped. This was just after about a minute outside.

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Snow removal as a teen. Usually in the 20s.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

By work are we counting snow removal?

Because if that is the case I worked a couple times in -10 degree weather.

Outside of that I've done construction work when it was in the 20's.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

-25 in an industrial freezer. Getting acclimated was an awful 3 weeks, but after that I felt like a super hero that cold could not touch.

 

[southlakehawk]

I remember that one. Was their quarterback Fogge or something? Ricky fogge?

That sounds about right !!!

 

[southlakehawk]

Ice fishing in iowa is beyond dumb.
Zero edible fish.

Strong disagree !!Walleye...crappie are so damn good when pulled out of icy waters !!

 

[Rifler]

Strong disagree !!Walleye...crappie are so damn good when pulled out of icy waters !!

I prefer to encounter them inside, fried up crispy, next to a cold beer.

 

[jasonrann]

When I was in college at UNI back in winter of 1988, headed off to hit the gym at 7 am which was the normal routine. Had no clue the wind chill was -60 and I was equipped with my Pepe jean jacket. Anyone that knows the route from Shull Hall to the UNI dome, at least back then, was not pleasant, just a bit of wind blast.

CSB.

 

[ButtersHawk]

Delivered beer in -30 wind chill. Wasn't fun. Seems like your body never catches up on those days

 

[goldmom]

After seeing Trad whine about cold temps in Florida, it got me thinking about being outside in the cold. I know a lot of you guys are desk jockeys, so probably don’t experience the joy of working outside in a Midwest winter.

For me, it was about 10 years ago in the middle of winter up in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. I don’t remember what the temp was, but the wind chill was -40F. We were working off a JLG lift, about 100 feet up in the air too. I had a full beard at the time, and ice crystals formed immediately on the stache and mouth covering.

I’m old and gray now, don’t mind the boogies in the nose, that can’t be helped. This was just after about a minute outside.

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That was me going to my mailbox in Madison except my eyes would water and my lashes freeze.
Trying to retrieve my garbage cans from the snow bank was another sad story.
Ugh. I don’t know how people live like that.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

I had a buddy of mine that did concrete flatwork, think warehouses, down in Florida. He told me the coldest he has ever been and the hottest he has ever been was working outdoors in Florida in the winter and summer. He was from Iowa.

If it was very cold when he was pouring concrete, it is guaranteed it wouldn't last very long, and I think @jamesvanderwulf will agree with me.

 

[ICWestfan]

If it was very cold when he was pouring concrete, it is guaranteed it wouldn't last very long, and I think @jamesvanderwulf will agree with me.

It was around West Palm, and high temps were in the low 50's with wind.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

Not work, but the 1986nIowa-Minnesota football game at Kinnick. Hawks won and went to the Rose Bowl ( Ronnie Harmon Game...ugh) was freaking cold !! My copenhagen spit deposit would freeze in about 20 seconds. Solid pond by the end of the game !! Iowa-Colorado game in 1991 maybe?? Couldn't make it to Iowa City because of the blizzard that hit the state!! About 300 people at the game. Sat on the west side of the stadium...not one soul in the east stands..Carried beers in my carhart onesie and stuffed beers in the snow banks in the stadium !! Eric Benemie ( Buffs RB) was a bad man !! 🤣 🤣

I remember an Iowa-Colorado game where my wife left at halftime as it was too hot. I don't remember the cold game.
The Danan Hughes snow angel game, I didn't make, but according to Sid Hartman, that game shouldn't have been played that day. Maybe because Iowa won.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

It was around West Palm, and high temps were in the low 50's with wind.

Well that's not bad.

 

[SalAunese]

After seeing Trad whine about cold temps in Florida, it got me thinking about being outside in the cold. I know a lot of you guys are desk jockeys, so probably don’t experience the joy of working outside in a Midwest winter.

For me, it was about 10 years ago in the middle of winter up in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. I don’t remember what the temp was, but the wind chill was -40F. We were working off a JLG lift, about 100 feet up in the air too. I had a full beard at the time, and ice crystals formed immediately on the stache and mouth covering.

I’m old and gray now, don’t mind the boogies in the nose, that can’t be helped. This was just after about a minute outside.

View embedded media

Nice little town in southern Minnesota. Been there a couple times.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

I had a buddy of mine that did concrete flatwork, think warehouses, down in Florida. He told me the coldest he has ever been and the hottest he has ever been was working outdoors in Florida in the winter and summer. He was from Iowa.

was around West Palm, and high temps were in the low 50's with wind.

Yeah, that's because we don't pour flatwork outside much below freezing unless you want to tear it out come spring. I have poured apartment foundations to -6 because the owners just DGAF. About impossible to protect vertical concrete in super cold weather...

 

[Chuck C]

Nice little town in southern Minnesota. Been there a couple times.

We had to go back there to do some work later on when it wasn’t that cold. There was a march on the main highway by the local Indian tribe (I don’t remember what tribe or what they were marching for). About 200 people, 50 people on horses. That was pretty cool

 

[SalAunese]

We had to go back there to do some work later on when it wasn’t that cold. There was a march on the main highway by the local Indian tribe (I don’t remember what tribe or what they were marching for). About 200 people, 50 people on horses. That was pretty cool

Sioux

 

[SeaPA]

I have a desk job, so the coldest I've ever worked in was 72 degrees. My dad and the dad of my brother & I's best childhood friend had a fairly brilliant idea when we were all teenagers (9th grade for me, 11th grade for them)...they paid us to reshingle both of our houses in late July in Florida. It was approximately 9000 degrees on the roof, and by mid-afternoon the first day we all three knew damn well that we were not going to do that for a living.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Probably snow shoveling in -10 degree temps. Fortunately there was no wind, so it wasn't as bad.