The final winter in northern Illinois, there was 4 feet of snow on the ground and it was -40 degrees with a wind chill of -90 degrees. We commuted to work – my wife to the west and I to the east, 25 miles each through I don't know how many blizzards to get to work... I mean, snowstorms where a foot fell during the workday... WHEN the cars would start. Sometimes, it was too cold for them, even though they both had coolant block heaters installed. As a former auto bodyman, I also know full well what heavy use of road salt does to a vehicle and how it shortens its life.
I spent the first 25 years of my life up North, in northern Illinois, so I've definitely felt what deep below zero winters felt like. My childhood home in a typical winter. The top of that grill was about 4 feet high.
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My wife is originally from Connecticut and still has a photo of her father on a bulldozer on top of the 30-foot high pile of snow he dozed from their driveway to the farm.
Anyway, you northerners can have your macho swaggering about how much cold you can endure. I prefer our upcoming winter forecast to yours any time, any day of any year. I like to have a taste of all 4 seasons, but I'm thinking I'll sit on my porch and drink beer on New Year's Day.
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