Amina Srna: It's the Brian Lehrer Show on WYNC. I'm Amina Srna, filling in for Brian today. We'll spend the last few minutes today with a call-in on this very cold Tuesday by asking a Brian Lehrer Show perennial favorite, how cold is it?
Maybe you're working extra hard to prevent your walkways and sidewalks from freezing over for the rest of the week. Maybe your dog just refuses to go outside. Maybe your nose hairs froze this morning on your run, or you skipped that run altogether. How cold is it? How do you stay warm on days like today? Call or text us now at 212-433-WNYC. That's 212-433-9692.
The cold is so relative, right? This current polar vortex is impacting a large part of the United States from the Northern Plains all the way to the East Coast. If you're from a place that normally experiences single-digit weather this time of year, tell us New Yorkers how it feels. Maybe the car engine really doesn't want to start. Maybe something you accidentally left outside completely shattered in the cold. Maybe things sound different outside, especially in below zero temperature, sound travels further. If you know, you kow. Tell us about it. 212-433-W33-WNYC. That's 212-433-9692.
Places in the south are also experiencing colder than normal temperatures and even snowfall. How about all the way down in Florida? The Panhandle saw some snowfall hit palm trees over the weekend. Maybe some of your citrus fruits or a bird bath outside froze. If you're a snowbird, maybe you're breaking out a down jacket for the first time. What does it feel like relative to what you expect? How does it change your behavior? 212-433-433-WNYC. That's 212-433-9692.
What do you do to stay warm during some of the coldest temperatures we've experienced so far this season? Got a tip or two that listeners might not know about? As our colleague Michael Hill has been telling us this morning, we're expecting a high of 23 degrees, but it will feel like 5 degrees. What do you do to stay warm? 212-433-WNYC. That's 212-433-9692.
Perhaps no one would know this better than our listeners who have to work outside on days like today. In the past, we've had delivery workers and ski instructors call in to share how they bundle up for extreme temperatures. We hope you're staying safe and as warm as possible today, but what are some of the tricks and tips of the trade? Call us at 212-433-WNYC. That's 212-433-9692. We'll take your calls right after this.
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Amina Srna: It's the Brian Lehrer Show on WYNC. Hi, everybody. I'm Amina Srna, filling in for Brian today. We're talking about just how cold it is today. Let's go to Siobhan in Greenpoint. Hi, Siobhan. You're on WYNC.
Siobhan: Hi, how are you?
Amina Srna: Hi. Good.
Siobhan: I'm just letting you know that it was so cold this morning that we had to pour ice on our lock of the gate of the hair salon that I own, cut loose. We couldn't get in unless we got hot water from across the street.
Amina Srna: Some hot water on the lock just to get into work today. Up next, Glenn in Queens. Hi, Glenn. You're on WNYC.
Glenn: Good morning. Love the show. Longtime listener.
Amina Srna: Thanks so much for calling in. What would you like to say?
Glenn: To say how cold it is, it's so cold. I saw a dog stuck to a fire hydrant.
Amina Srna: [chuckles] Oh, no. Thanks so much for your call, Glenn. Bob in Brooklyn, you're on WYNC.
Bob: Hold on a second here. I want to put you on phone. Hi.
Amina Srna: Hi, Bob. You have a warning to cyclists?
Bob: I do, actually. I am a cyclist. I've been doing it for decades. Right around the time I was in my mid to late 40s, I didn't want to realize that I was getting older, and I had a bad cold. I figured I'll just shake it off and ride my bike, do some laps around the park. It was 10 degrees out, but that was no biggie for me. I ended up getting pneumonia.
One of the things that was told to me, and this is a warning, especially if you're getting older and you're still in your cycling and stuff, if you're not feeling well, basically at 20 degrees or lower, I was told by the doctor, your nose hairs freeze. What made me think of this was when you said, “Have your nose hairs freezed? Have your nose hairs freezed?” They do. That is not good. That makes it so that you can't filter out germs. Anybody who's out there and into riding and stuff like that, just think about that before you go out in the really, really cold weather, especially if you're not feeling well.
Amina Srna: A word of caution from Bob in Brooklyn. Thanks, Bob. Here's a text. "It's so cold that my kindergartner actually agreed to wear a hat." Judith on the Upper West Side, hi. You're on WYNC.
Judith: Hi. Thank you. It's not too cold to go to your local picket line and be supportive with the nurses who are fighting for bigger staff, health coverage, and security. The rage and the energy will keep you warm.
Amina Srna: I take it you are a supporter. Right? You go out there and support on the picket line on this cold day. How are you staying warm?
Judith: Yes. A lot of layers, but we have to do this.
Amina Srna: Thank you so much, Judith. Thanks for your call. Here's a text. "Grew up in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, now in New York City. Best advice, wear layers, including under slacks. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Always have a scarf or something else to cover your nose and mouth. Your breath will help keep your face warm." From somebody in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, or formerly from northern Minnesota and Wisconsin to Hilton Head in South Carolina. Hi, Lisa, you're on WNYC.
Lisa: Hi. Good morning. I listen to you guys every day [00:07:10].
Amina Srna: Good morning. Thank you so much. How are you keeping warm? How cold is it down there, and how are you keeping warm?
Lisa: It's nowhere near as cold as you guys have it. It feels like 21. It's probably actual temperature is 40ish, which is cold for us. It's cold, and the wind is strong. I walked on the beach this morning, but I had to wear a turtleneck, fleece sweater, down jacket, winter leggings, mittens, a hat, tall socks. I survived it. It'll be fine. Tomorrow, it's probably going to be 70, so I'm lucky.
Amina Srna: I bet a few of us are very jealous. I know I am. Let's go to Aaron in Knoxville. Hi, Erin. You're on WNYC.
Aaron: Hey, thanks for taking my call. How's it going?
Amina Srna: Good. What advice do you have for us?
Aaron: I'm a New Yorker from Minnesota originally working in Knoxville. Just to give a little update, Knoxville is about 20 degrees right now, which is unseasonable. As a Minnesotan, one thing that I used to do when I was growing up and taking winter camping and ice fishing trips, both of those things are questionable, sanity-wise, but I did them. I would wear electric socks. We had electric battery-operated socks.
Amina Srna: Electric socks?
Aaron: Yes. They like function like an electric blanket for your feet. That's one piece of advice. The second piece of advice is just not to touch cold metal with warm hands because you might stick and leave a little part of yourself on the cold metal. The third thing is just to say shout out to my brothers and sisters in Minnesota, holding it down against both kinds of ice.
Amina Srna: Wow. Aaron, thank you so much for your call. Let's go to Jennifer on Jones Beach. Hi, Jennifer.
Jennifer: Hi.
Amina Srna: Hey, how cold is it?
Jennifer: According to my car, which I'm sitting in at the moment, it's 23, but it's very windy, so I'm sure the wind chills a lot less.
Amina Srna: You told our screener that you're a birder. How does that change your birding experience this morning?
Jennifer: It means I have to wear a lot more clothing, and my hands freeze as I'm trying to do my e-bird entries or use my camera.
Amina Srna: Not too cold for the birds. I guess they're still out and about, so let's just see.
Jennifer: Well, they have to eat, so yes, they're out and about.
Amina Srna: Fair point. Thank you so much, Jennifer. Thanks for your call. Stay warm out there. Mike in East Rockaway, hi. You're on WYNC.
Mike: Awesome. What I do is you got to make sure the couches are away from the radiator because it's cold inside my house. Even though I set it at 73, it feels cold. Also what I do is the wind's coming from the west, so my front door, I block it. I wedge two chairs to really push the door against the frame, and it works. Also, the ceiling fan, you got to put the ceiling fan on reverse to get the air circulating. This is what I do to try to keep my-- I got my mother-in-law in the house, so I try to keep the house as warm as possible.
Amina Srna: She's lucky to have such a good son-in-law. Thank you so much for your text-- oh sorry, for your call, Mike. Text says, "Oh my God, I use a trimmer on my nose hairs. Maybe I shouldn't if they're protecting me from illness." Bob from Brooklyn, thanks again for that advice.
We'll have to leave it there for today. Thank you all so much for your calls and tips on how to stay warm. Stay safe out there, everybody. I'm Amina Srna, and this is the Brian Lehrer Show on WYNC. Stay tuned for All of It.
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