#polar vortex

So, this is coming from someone who lives in an uninsulated concrete walled basement room in a region that gets that sort of weather most of the winter. If you are a healthy adult who lives indoors, you are going to be fine. You'll be chilly for a few days, but even if you lose power, you will be fine.

Several years ago, southern Ontario was hit with a major storm that gave us -40 degree temperatures, blanketed everything in multiple inches of ice, and knocked out the power grid. For a week, there was no power here, which meant no heating. I woke up with frost on my walls and ice in my water bottle every morning.

And it was fine.

You aren't going to freeze to death if you don't go to sleep under fifteen blankets while wearing a feather down parka. You don't need to build yourself a nest mound in the middle of your living room floor. Tiny drafts around your windows aren't going to plunge your home into subzero temperatures. I currently have my bedroom window open for fresh air, and it's 25 below out. And I'm wearing a tee shirt.

Now, have some tips and suggestions that aren't all laced with hopeless despair and doom.

Your bed is a huge insulated pad. If it's on a frame, all the better. The same goes for couches. Now is the time to get comfy cozy and curl up in them as much as possible. Move them a few inches away from any exterior walls if you can, and add an extra blanket or two. Wear socks to sleep.

Clothes hanging in a closet are also a great insulator. Leave them there, don't scatter them on the floor.

Stock up on food that doesn't need to be cooked or chilled. Peanut butter sandwiches and shelf stable juice are going to be your friend if you lose power.

Run your hot water for a few minutes before going to sleep. This will help prevent your pipes from freezing.

Stock up on bottled water, in case the pipes do freeze.

Let furry pets snuggle with you in bed.

Seriously, stay in bed, don't sleep on the floor. The floor is the coldest part of the room.

If you have no heat in your house, cover or close your vents. A lot more cold air will come through those, than from little leaks around windows.

Alcohol. Does. Not. Warm. You. Up.

Putting food in the snow to keep it frozen does work, but oh my god, put it in a securely sealed container like a tote bin first. Don't just drop plastic bags in a snow drift. That's a good way to feed the local strays, but not save your food. Another option is to just get some snow or ice from outside and put it in a big pot inside your fridge.

Heating pads go on top of you, not under you.

If you have to be outside-

Tuck your pants into your boots. Fabric leaches moisture like crazy, and wet cuffs can quickly reach your knees.

If it's icy, do the penguin waddle to get around on sidewalks.

Zip ties around your boots can be a decent alternative to ice grips. Just don't make them too tight to get your boots off!

Your hands, feet, and head get colder much faster than your core. Thick socks, gloves, and a hat and scarf are vital. If your gloves get wet, take them off and tuck your arms inside your coat with your hands under your armpits. Keep spare socks in your bag or pockets.

Wipe your face dry regularly.

If it's snowing, use an umbrella to keep as much off you as you can. It's not that the snow is cold, it's that it will make you wet when it melts from your body heat.

You're using a lot more energy getting around than you would in typical weather. Rest often and catch your breath. Over-exertion leads to sweat leads to damp clothes leads to more cold.

Flex your fingers and toes whenever you're staying still. It keeps them warm, and helps prevent painful stiffness later.

Instant hot packs in your pockets will feel amazing. They usually last about six hours.

Keep your nose covered.

If your boots aren't waterproof, you can easily make boot covers with plastic bags and rubber bands. It won't look pretty, but the goal is to stay dry, not be stylish.

Bring extra clothes with you and change into them when you are inside, if anything is damp.

Ready for some serious cold?

The planet's most extreme cold air will be barreling into the central and eastern United States this coming weekend "like a wrecking ball," said Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue in a post on X on Dec. 9.

Maue called it a "textbook 'Polar Vortex' mega-dump of western Canadian cold."