Most of these shouldn't be happening. That's what you have heating and insulation for. I assume in these places such weather isn't common so they were unprepared ( ? I thought US does get some kind of winter though?). As a Russian I can tell you you're definitely not supposed to get ice *inside*, whether it's -20 or -40 C out there ;P Also, I love winter and am jealous right now, warming up to disgusting +1 here atm, mah snow is melting D:

I live in Quebec City and while we do get -40C, we still live our lives. We do get used to it. The thing is, if temperatures drop 20 or 30 degrees Celcius from one da6 to another, we are going to be very cold, just live anyone who is not used to it. If the temperature slowly lowers to -40, then we will be fine. Houses should not have frost inside. Water should not freeze when it leaves the pipes. If your water freezes, you have to let it run constantly so if won't freeze in your pipes. My colleague used to live in Whitehorse and many days did they have to let water run. The government was issuing those tips.

I read somewhere that this cold broke a 120 year old record, so I guess they aren't really used to it? That could also explain why the houses aren't made to handle this? Because this really shouldn't be happening to your house.

You acclimate to it after a bit. It’s been nearly a week of -25C/-15F here in Michigan and I’ve had to spend a fair amount of time outdoors caring for animals. Today it is sunny and a balmy -10C/15F. It feels wonderful. Good day for a run or a a couple of km on the Nordic ski trails.

Yeah, I've gotten used to it...The best part is that we've gotten a week off school!

you sure do get used to it ! I am from Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada . Ive lived in England for 32 years, and just KNOW I couldn't cope with another Canadian winter !

Wisconsin and Minnesota do not normally get this cold this time of year. Because of the Winter Vortex, temps have been dropping a lot more rapidly. Most northern states are fully equipped to deal with snow..but when it snows so bad that even the plows are called off for fear of them getting stuck or the drivers freezing..it's colder than usual. Even here in North Carolina, having temps below freezing for several weeks in a row is unusual.

Honestly, as someone who grew up in Kansas, I've been used the the sub-degree levels since I was little, but not all this damn snow!

No, born and raised, hate it, will never, ever get used to this. It sucks on so many levels.

Yeah, I'm from Florida. I can't even begin to imagine.

The places hit by the polar vortex are not used to that degree of cold, that is the reason the results are so drastic. In my town in Indiana, it is the coldest day ever recorded. We aren't prepared for that. :)

Everyone always makes fun of us in the U.S. because we make a big deal over "a little snow." But what a lot of people dont realize is that this type of weather is not normal and neither is our state of living prepared for something like this. Our houses were not built for this type of weather. Not only that, but even getting to work is difficult because we have A LOT of roads and not enough people (nor money) to maintain them. So if this type of weather comes along, even with warning, there isnt really much we can do. Salt on the roads? Sure, if you have time to sprinkle that magic all over the labyrinth of streets. Improved heating systems and home insulators? If you got the money with your broke a** paychecks. We usually have "mild four seasons", not "attack of mother nature's hormones."

How are you dealing with the opposite issue of the winter polar vortexes? Heard your country is encountering extreme heat!!

You build differently, dress up differently and go by. Try imagining it afterall.

I thought you have a hard time in Australia too right now? Swedish newspapers wright about extremely hot weather in Australia. Here in Sweden it’s about -2 * Celsius and snow.

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Look at pictures from Oymyakon, Russia - coldest city. Average minus 50 C ( minus 58 F) I suppose when widy -70 even... That is hardcore ;) Or Yakutsk

Hot in Perth; Roasting everywhere else in our sun burnt country!

Dress in lots of layers. My Under Armor 3.0 base layer has been a godsend. Thank goodness this kind of cold is not typical!

Same from living in NZ!

Drafty construction.

I've lived in the US, they don't usually build with bricks. It's all wood frame, little insulation and then a front cover of some type, plaster and boom. you have a house.

Bra fråga...

So Trump would be a white walker at the north side of the wall. Pretty accurate.

Ice wall sounds fun as hell. Sign me up!

Make Vlad Triggered Again!

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AMAZING idea, Bad Whoreobet!

We just had a house built and that made me realize that insulation is probably everyone's number one preoccupation here when building something.