New record

[Rhodie]

It can cause some beautiful frost covered trees when there’s extra moisture in the air and it’s cold, saw hoar frost one year in Helsinki. And one can freeze dry laundry! And you’ll know you love BBQ when you charcoal grill outside in -20C

 

[Ludlow]

36 outside here and 35% RH inside. I do not enjoy going under 30% no matter what the outside temp is. When that happens we stop using the bath exhaust fan and start boiling spaghetti more often without the range hood running. Hang laundry in basement instead of dryer. Lots of ways to boost indoor RH. My windows are old and sweat no matter what, so I dont care about that. An OAK helps if using a wood stove.

 

[ChrisE]

I’m having issues myself with RH.

 

[jetsam]

I like the way that the thermometer seems to feel that the flower will be happy to hear that it's -51 and holding...

 

[SpaceBus]

I’m having issues myself with RH.

Yes, same here. I have several plants and I mist them a few times a day, run a cheap Walgreens small room humidifier 24/7, run the kettle/steamer on the wood stove, I boil a lot of water for French press coffee, and my wife hand washes and air dries her knitted stuff.

 

[Diabel]

My house in the city right now is sitting at 25%RH it is a bit too low for my likings!

I have to start telling my teenage kids the opposite.....stop using the bathroom fan when you are taking three showers a day........

 

[ChrisE]

I guess every little bit helps..

 

[T-roy_]

Low RH is normal in below zero temperatures here. Just another day in the frozen north.

 

[SpaceBus]

I guess every little bit helps..

It does. If you hang dry your clothes inside, that will help too.

 

[ShawnLiNY]

Thinking about this, and the different situations, I will accept that you are right, for your conditions.
Admittedly, I can only speak for my area, temps, and house. I know the minute my hair is sticking to the side of my face, and everything I touch shocks the hell out of me, I have to fire up the humidifier.

So, you don't get dried out? No sore throats, shocks, static cling etc?
What about furniture and wood in your place, does it crack due to the low moisture content?

I learned something new today. So even if I made myself look like and ass, I still gained some knowledge. Thanks

Hog I would have argued your point of view all day long , no matter what was shown me . I have learned the same info as you ( our local temps rarely get into negative ) everything I’ve learned about RH doesn’t apply under 10f

 

[Stelcom66]

It was just on the news how the northern U.S and Canada are experiencing extremely low temps due to the Polar Vortex.

I'd like to have the weather display system like Mnpellet.

 

[firefighterjake]

This post has inspired me to dig out my Spiderman Dr. Denton pajamas with footies and start scuffing along the carpet . . . Spiderman meet Electro!

 

[mar13]

We're having mild weather here on the west coast. May have hit 60 before the Marine air and fog came in. We fight moisture here. Go inland to the other side of the Pacific Crest and sub 20% humidity is common, with single digits seen every year (during wild fire season). I'm unfimiliar with how those high desert-like areas are when they're getting subzero weather.

Anyhow, looking at the weather station makes me wonder about OAK vs no OAK if you are trying to keep humidity down. I think dew point is the true measure of the amount of moisture in the air and relative humidity is only a measure of how saturated the air is which depends on temperature. So pull air inside, heat it up and if no moisture is added from the house, the dew point remains the same but the relative humidity lowers? I've played with the following website, to mess around with that concept. It doesn't pencil out for the -51, but I'm sure there's moisture being added by household activities and people. (broken link removed)

 

[Ludlow]

Outside air means that the air for the stove will come directly from the outside, versus pulling it through the envelope and acting as a home ventilation apparatus in effect. The moisture produced inside will stay inside with an OAK.

 

[Mnpellet]

I have no oak on this stove and honestly no good way of hooking one up to code. House on slab stove centrally located. I had a pellet stove last season with an oak hooked up. When it was cold it sure made condensation so I insulated it however ended up wishing I wouldn’t even hooked it up. Our house heats easily and is usually mid 70’s with this stove. Yes moisture would stay in house with an oak and that is opposite of what I want.
We Did some painting in the living room today and the humidity went up to 30% for a while. It confirmed I don’t want it that high when it’s this cold!

 

[Ludlow]

I insulated mine. Direct out the back through the wall. It would probably grow solid ice on it otherwise if under 20 outside.

 

[Simonkenton]

Count your blessings, sure it is minus 51 but look at that humidity, 19 per cent. Good God down here in Alabama it is 78 percent humidity.
Of course, that is partially offset with a temp of 41 degrees.

 

[ShawnLiNY]

This post has inspired me to dig out my Spiderman Dr. Denton pajamas with footies and start scuffing along the carpet . . . Spiderman meet Electro!

I used to get electrocuted in my feety Pajamas basically everything I touched

 

[weatherguy]

Did you go outside to feel the -50? Ive experienced -35 twice and that was bone chilling cold, nothing worked, my car barely stated and my jacket was making a crinkly sound. Its an experience that's for sure.

 

[Mnpellet]

Absolutely somebody had to throw the hot water!

Did you go outside to feel the -50? Ive experienced -35 twice and that was bone chilling cold, nothing worked, my car barely stated and my jacket was making a crinkly sound. Its an experience that's for sure.

 

[dBrad]

I know you folks are used to that but do kids go to school and life goes on like normal when it's that cold?

 

[T-roy_]

2hr. Late start for school this morning. Probably more late starts or school cancellations this week, it’s gonna get colder Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

[SpaceBus]

2hr. Late start for school this morning. Probably more late starts or school cancellations this week, it’s gonna get colder Tuesday and Wednesday.

That's out of control.

 

[T-roy_]

That's out of control.

Yup.


Wind chill factor supposed to bottom out at -60f

 

[wooduser]

I wonder how electric vehicles are working out for their owners in the cold?

Should be a good practical test for batteries, heating and defrosting systems and such.