Science & Outdoors
UWSP students deal with the cold temperatures
The Pointer
nmeye177@uwsp.edu
Wisconsin experienced record low temperatures across the state during the week of Jan. 11, some of the coldest temperatures we’ve felt in a decade. With reported highs of no more than 5 degrees fahrenheit and lows of negative 15 in many places, the Arctic winds swept through the week, chilling Wisconsinites to the bone.
Stevens Point bottomed out at a low temperature of negative 25 on Jan. 17 according to the National Weather Service Web site (the Web site did not indicate wind chill).
With wind chill temperatures of around 40 below zero expected for the week, Wisconsin Emergency Management, a division of the state Department of Military affairs that normally deals with natural disasters, urged people to be prepared for the dangerously cold temperatures.
People were encouraged to stay outside no more than 10 minutes to prevent frostbite. Schools across the state closed up shop for the cold days to protect their students, with some closing almost a full day in advance. Even with the winter advisories, students did not seem to have been deterred and view this winter like any other.
“I think it’s been a shorter winter; the warmer temperatures stayed around longer,” said sophomore Alina Ott, “but the cold temperatures have been really cold.”
For those that did venture outside the cold made getting anywhere difficult. The combination of the snow and cold made driving from place to place nearly impossible at times. But experienced Wisconsinites seem to know to be cautious.
“I’ve been really cautious driving,” said freshman and Wisconsin Rapids native Theng Khang, “but it hasn’t bothered me.”
“I think this winter has been more harsh,” said freshman Rochelle Hayes. “I’m from Minnesota and we don’t get this much snow.”
The weather also kept many winter sports enthusiasts in their homes for the week, forcing them to put a hold on some of their favorite winter past times.
“Normally I would probably go sledding or something fun like that,” said Hayes. “It’s just been too cold.”
If meteorologists around the state are correct, the coldest part of the winter is over. Historically, the coldest days of the year are from January 11 to January 21 in Wisconsin, so hopefully the warm weather is now well on its way.
