I have read many times on this website temperatures go ridiculously low but today I was looking on the BBC weather page and it said in for the next five days in Calgary the warmest it would get to was 0 (which was today apparantely) but could go to -9 during the day (i think that was on Saturday) but then the lowest - usually night temperatures it would go to -29

I was just wondering how do you cope in those temperatures - i dont suppose you can wrap up at home with your duvet, you still have to go to work, school etc.

Does it feel as cold as this or because its dry its not as bad!! I dont mind the cold dry days in Scotland but they only go to -3 or -4 at the worst, I dont think I have had anything lower.

The simple answer is that people are dressed for it and all buildings and infrastructure are well-insulated and heated.

Around here people cope by being miserable, swearing about the conditions and discussing how much warmer it is where they lived before and/or want to live next. There aren't many happy people in Canada in February.

There is a reason that canadians have huge carbon footprints

Indoors is usually well insulated and heated, Outdoors, you dress appropriately. -29 in isolation is bearable, but when the wind blows you know all about it. You just get used to putting boots on and off and owning ten hats and pairs of gloves.

The lack of humidity helps, I dont think I would be out in my yard in just a sweater in the UK if it was zero C. I guess eventually you acclimatize to it to some extent, and zero is no longer all that cold to me. But come February I, like most other sane people here, have started to have enough and are itching for spring (and the bugs) to arrive.

The cold I can deal with, its actually the oppressive heat and especially humidity here in Ontario in the summer that I find the hardest to deal with.

It's the same the world over. The folk I have been with the last few days were moaning about how hot it was. Wusses. It was only 30+.

THERMAL UNDIES!! They're GENIOUS

Layer, layer, layer some more, get a good pair of winter boots, a good coat, a hat (I'm loving my ear muffs at the mo)....hmm I'm currently wearing 2 pairs of gloves but that's cos I don't like huge bulky gloves so wear leather ones with stretchy wool ones over the top which works out fine.

Oh and avoid spending long periods of time outside

iaink is right you just start dressing appropriately and yeah the plus side is you do acclimatize, the other day I thought it was quite warm and it was -9!

Husband and I were out walking to dog around Christmas time and commented that "it was quite warm today at only -12". The past few days up to 8 and 12 degrees has felt properly Spring-like. All over by tomorrow again, I think though, for a wee while

Last year Calgary was very on and off with snow and temperatures - it didn't bug me at all and only a few days in Jan were cold cold. This winter, most of December remained well below freezing and the charm soon wore off. I like it when the chinooks come in and the temps come up - I don't mind them going down again, 'cos another chinook will be in soon. December was the exception I think

As others have said, the houses cope well. But when it hits -23 or colder, we do get ice on the inside of some of our windows. The gas fire goes on more too (note rise in gas bills). I don't sit around my house huddled in duvets (though that actually sounds like a fine idea) - I just put on another layer.

only - 9 in Regina now what a nice day it is.

I remember my first winter when people asked me how I was I said cold -the response I had was it's only chilly today I now say the same thing

I was just wondering how do you cope in those temperatures

We just do. There is no alternative other than moving to a warmer, more moderate climate such as the UK and I, for one, am not going back there. As previous posters have explained, the country is equipped to deal with it. Almost all houses/buildings have much more than adequate central heating, good quality winter clothing is readily available, low, medium and expensively priced.
It takes some time to become acclimatized both to the winter and the summer, but if you're into winter activities it'll knock your socks off and there are all types of water/camping/hiking activities in the spring/summer/fall months.

Well frankly you don't see that many people going for a stroll but you just get used to it.....My son plays Pond Hockey down to -18-20c and he is only five! I think the schools shove them outside at break times down to -18c or so....

What is a pain is when it is about -20/-25c 'cos then I don't feel like I can throw my two out onto the deck for 'fresh air'....starts to feel a bit like child abuse!!!

Lisa

Much rather spend the winter in a dry climate with some days at -30, with the occasional visit to +12. Than a consistent wet +5 to +10.

As another poster said the -12 was positvely balmy after a week with highs at -20. Had a wedding in Dec when the high was -23, we all wrapped warm outside then stripped to our finery once inside. The knees did get a bit cold though as I was in my kilt!!

Move to southern BC - i don't even own a woolly hat

Everyone worries about the cold - Wait til it's plus 40.

Cold is a doddle! Just dress warmer (the clothes are made for it), and staying in at home you won't notice the difference, 'cos the homes are built for it.

In summer it's so hot and humid, especially at night you want to peel your skin off. You can't sleep.

That's Manitoba east:

Or you could move to Calgary, where it's cool at night except for about 2 weeks in summer.

In Calgary you get some temp relief from the Chinook winds - it was +16 on Sunday! We've had about a week of temps in the plus figures & bright sunshine. There's a cold snap coming for a few days then another warm front.

Even when it's cold it's invariably sunny. I was watching the Carling Cup match today in Burnley & I'd rather be here in -30 than in that miserable wet, damp, cold!!!

In truth I've felt warmer here in -10 than I have in London in +10! it's a dry cold that you can dress for in Calgary - just layer up, scarf over mouth if it's really cold, & you're fine.

The kids have a blast sledding, skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating or just making snow forts & having snowball fights in the park. The PS3 is almost redundant!!

Give me winter here anyday! at least they have a real winter not that grey, miserable damp thing I remember in London!! :-)

Do you not have AC?