#frosty-frights

#frosty-frights

Wind chill is a measure of how quickly bodies lose heat when you combine low temperatures with high winds. And wind chill conditions can be dangerous. "The stronger the winds [and] the colder it is, the more likely you are to develop frostbite in a short amount of time or hypothermia," says Jessica Lee of the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.

If you're hunkering down ahead of the big winter storm this weekend, we want to make sure you're well prepared. Yes, with batteries, flashlights, toilet paper, and food but perhaps most importantly with good reading material. We looked back through some recent interviews and Books We Love, our annual year-end reading guide, to find snowy suggestions to get you through the storm.

There's a glorious smugness that can only be experienced by exercising outdoors in winter conditions. The fresh air, the endorphins, the reduced risk of heart disease they're all nice bonuses, but nothing beats that knowing nod from another rain-drenched runner, or the horrified faces of nearby dog walkers as you stride confidently into the sea for a winter dip.

First snow of the year means SNOW CREAM," "This is literally my childhood," "Ohhhh girlfriend you're not supposed to make snow cream with the first snow of the season," "Hey so I saw an under the microscope of snow and I'd just put that back on the ground.

If you grew up in a region that received snow, you're probably familiar with the multitude of skiing superstitions. Whether it was wearing your pajamas inside out or flushing ice cubes down the toilet, every kid had their preferred method of playing with fate to force a snow day. Skiers, however, have taken snow superstitions to the next level. A common superstition in the skiing world is the refusal to call the last run, as doing so can apparently heighten your risk of getting injured.

The holiday hustle, bustle, and distractions have come to a halt, and the stillness of winter is starting to set in. The winter season can also be a beautiful time of year for some, with cozying up by the fireplace, enjoying the crisp winter air, and engaging in outdoor activities unique to the season. But for others, the shorter amount of daylight, cold weather, lack of greenery, cabin fever, fewer outdoor activities, and slower pace can begin to wear on them as the season progresses.

Residents in the Greater Toronto Area are in for another chilly weekend with warnings issued for risk of frostbite, according to Environment Canada. The national weather agency issued a yellow weather alert Saturday morning for wind chills of -25 to -30 for Saturday morning. Those frigid temperatures are expected to come back again Saturday night and stick around until Sunday morning. However, there will be some sunny breaks on Saturday with a high of -11 C that will feel like -19 C in the afternoon.

The recent snow and ice storm turned much of the nation into a winter wonderlandfrom the safety of a nice, cozy sofa indoors. If you step outside in such conditions, however, you'll find a dangerous obstacle course that can turn walking the dog or checking the mailbox into an emergency room visit with just one false step. There's no good clearinghouse for data about injuries related to winter weather, but studies do suggest that fall rates increase with snow and ice, especially among older adults.

Packing for a truly freezing destination takes more than tossing a few sweaters into your bag-something I quickly learned in the Arctic Circle during polar night, when "daytime" is pitch-black and the temperatures regularly plunge well below zero. Growing up in New York winters, spending the last few snow seasons in the Rockies, and now logging weeks above the Arctic Circle has taught me one key lesson: staying warm in subzero temps is all about smart layers -not necessarily bulky expedition gear.

Record cold temperatures are once again expected to hit a swath of the country this weekend-even plunging Florida into its coldest stretch of the last 15 years, potentially bringing snow to areas of the state that haven't seen it in four decades. This arctic blast is actually a sign of climate change, and how more extreme weather happens in an increasingly warming world, despite erroneous claims by the president and others.