Differences in the Definition of "Cold"

Back in 2008, I moved back down to Florida as that homesick feeling never fully leaves me, and I had an opportunity to take over the house I grew up in. My dad was in the process of moving out of that house to a property across state lines in Baldwin County, Alabama. The Alabama place was a prefabricated home, but it had a long porch along the back side of it that was screened in. It was a good place to sit around outside, mostly in the shade, without the threat of being fully devoured by mosquitoes.

We would sit on that porch during the morning and listen to the sounds of nature around us. There were pheasants off in the trees lining the property, and you could hear them cooing as the day got started. Occasionally, you’d see an armadillo rooting around. Then there were your usual cast of birds and squirrels.

This was all in November and December, so I would check back on Nebraska’s weather. Where it was still warm enough in Florida for flowers to bloom, it would be well below freezing in Nebraska. The reports to my dad would send chills through him, as if he could literally feel the conditions I was describing to him.

I’m now back in Nebraska, and I do the opposite, keeping tabs on Florida because frankly, that’s where I’d rather be in the winter months. Today, Pensacola is due for a high of 70ºF (22.2ºC), where we’ll limp to right at freezing here in Omaha. I bring all of this up because a couple of days ago, Pensacola had a Cold Weather Advisory, which stated the following:

* WHAT... Very cold wind chills as 
low as 16 expected.

* WHERE... Portions of south central 
and southwest Alabama, northwest 
Florida, and southeast Mississippi.

* WHEN... Until 9 AM CST this morning.

* IMPACTS... Wind chill values can 
lead to hypothermia with prolonged 
exposure.

Use caution while traveling outside. 
Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, 
and gloves.

Keep pets indoors as much as possible.   
Make frequent checks on older family, 
friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable 
heaters are used correctly. Do not use 
generators or grills inside.

Pretty intense stuff, right? Now compare this to the Cold Weather Advisory just issued for tomorrow for the Omaha area:

* WHAT... Very cold wind chills as low
as 28 below expected.

* WHERE... Portions of southwest Iowa
and east central, northeast, and 
southeast Nebraska.

* WHEN... From midnight tonight to 
10 AM CST Friday.

* IMPACTS... The dangerously cold wind 
chills as low as 28 below zero could 
cause frostbite on exposed skin in as 
little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and 
hypothermia will occur if unprotected 
skin is exposed to these temperatures.   
Use caution while traveling outside. 
Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and 
gloves.

Make frequent checks on older family, 
friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable 
heaters are used correctly.

As you can see, cold weather is the threat of hypothermia in one location and frostbite in another. Both are serious, but hypothermia is a precursor to frostbite. I would clearly choose the former over the latter. That said, that day in Florida eventually made it to 60ºF, so they were fine in a matter of hours. It’s just funny what constitutes as cold depending on where you live and what you’re used to. On the other hand, Florida’s climate supports the lives of numerous lizards, both small and large, which is to say it’s warm and very humid in the summer. Lord knows Omahans are bitching about the humidity by June of each year, when I guarantee you Florida’s had it much worse for a couple of months by then.