Nature: Ice Crystal Sunset from Canada in January

You may hear me bemoaning the fact that we are having an exceptional cold winter in the part of Canada where @knarly327 and I live.

Today, the outside temperature is -24 degrees Celsius or -12 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then, you must add something called wind-chill.

The Wind Chill Factor

The wind chill factor is applied when we get these extremely low (sub-zero) temperatures. It's a measurement of what the wind would feel like against exposed skin or how your human body would feel if it wasn't properly protected from the affects of being in exceptionally cold wind.

Wind increases the rate at which the body loses heat. This means that on windy days in the winter, the outside temperature will feel colder than what the temperature actually reads on a thermometer.

Today, the wind chill drops us down another 6 degrees. With the wind today, it feels like it's -30 degrees Celsius outside right now.

As a result there is an extreme cold warning issued by Environment Canada because the threat of frost bite and hypothermia is a real thing. People can die from hypothermia and frost bite can lead to amputation of body parts (like fingers and toes) depending on how severely the digits become frozen.

Being aware of the wind chill factor is critical for Canadians who work outside and for our homeless.

Yes, we have homeless people who mostly reside in all our major cities.

We have teams of trained people who check on all the folks who refuse to take shelter inside. The teams of helpers (many of which are volunteers) offer additional sleeping bags, warm clothing, hot food and hot beverages, as well as basic first aid.

They (our homeless) will also be offered refuge to warm-up in a warm vehicle and they will be offered transportation to a shelter if they change their mind and want to get inside, out of the elements.

Some will accept the help. Sadly, others will not.

The picture that I am sharing with you today is a "sunset". What's unusually about it is the that the sun is illuminating the ice crystals (which are in the air) as it sets. 

It's beautiful to see it but it comes with a warning that says it's exceptionally cold outside.

We must heed the warning and take appropriate measures to keep warm and protect ourselves from the outside elements, if we go outside.

I welcome your comments and I invite you to follow me on my journey...not to worry I'm a trained Canadian and we know how to survive in the winter. ;)

 

~ Rebecca Ryan