To think that if the polar vortex ever fully came over the UK and we had temps of -30 with windchill of -45, half the country would be wiped out?

[MargoLovebutter]

Watched the news about North America and the cold temps they are currently experiencing in areas that wouldn't usually and I thought if that ever happened in the UK, everyone would just die.

Slightly light-hearted but what do others think - given 2 cms of snow seems to bring us to a standstill?

Well obviously we'd struggle. We don't have anything like those temps here. Our clothes aren't made to keep us warm in those temps, our cars are mostly not made to run in those temps and our homes aren't made to withstand them either. So, yes, we would struggle. I'm not sure what that proves though? We'd also struggle in the kinds of heat Australia has been dealing with.

It always amazes me. In Scotland we do cope a bit better since we're used to it, but there's still travel disasters everywhere! Other countries cope with huge snowfalls with no bother. Our infrastructure is just so weak.

We wouldn't all just die. I mean, yes, things would come to a standstill but they've had a few days to prepare for it and stock up and it's only going to be this cold for them for a few days. So in an equivalent situation in the uk, most would be ok.

Some people would die though. Admittedly.

Not really meant to prove anything Eric - just idly wondering. It looks as though the climate is changing and we may get more extremes of heat & cold, so I was just mulling over in my mind how the UK might cope.

Just get a warmer fleece/ coat/ boots Eric. Why are our houses not built to cope? What do you mean? How are they built differently in the US/ Sweden/ Russia? I genuinely don't know.

It wouldn’t be the cold that got most folks, it would be the stupidity. Although not as low as this, many places in UK experience very low temps, -10c, -15c on a regular basis, and thick snow. But those that live with this routinely are well prepared, well stocked up, and many have a basis emergency plan in place. It’s only those who don’t live with it routinely that make a fuss, do stupid things, try and drive in cars that just impede others. That’s we lots of folks in cold places have 4x4 vehicles, and know how to use them properly. For some they are essential, not a fashion statement!

We'd cope if it became the new normal but if it suddenly plummeted we'd be screwed. Unsurprisingly really.

I was working once in dubai at an event when it rained heavily and it caused chaos. They shut the event down as the temporary building they'd built for it started leaking and the roads started flooding quite quickly. Drainage and water tight buildings obviously aren't a priority in the desert.

wildhoysmama I've spent lots of time in Scandi lapland areas (arctic circle) and the houses are built so differently. The insulation is phenomenal and most are triple glazed at the very least. I presume that they are more expensive to build than the type of stuff Wimpey, Barrets etc throw up here in the UK.

I don’t think we’d all just die but of course we would struggle immensely, our country isn’t used to such weather. We don’t have snow ploughs, many people don’t have snow tyres and most people don’t have adequate clothes for those sorts of temperatures.

Never I am amazed by the amount of people who just don't know how to drive in cold conditions! This morning there were people sliding all over the place through driving incorrectly. It is just so unnecessary.

In my mums country it was acceptable to miss a job interview if it rained. I think that’s similar to the situation here with regards to snow. People who are used to snow can’t fathom why we can’t just get a grip but it’s the same for other areas of weather in different countries.
Really did make me chuckle that and they don’t have a monsoon season this is just pretty regular rain we’re talking.

Yes, we would. But equally it would be mental to spend the billions that would be required for the infrastructure North America has to cope with that kind of weather when it isn’t something we ever experience here although climate change might get us there

I presume that they are more expensive to build than the type of stuff Wimpey, Barrets etc throw up here in the UK.

But I think the difference between a Scandinavian house and a Wimpy house would probably be the difference between energy efficiency and comfort, not between survival and death.

Houses in countries that get properly cold are better insulated if wealthy countries like the US or Scandinavia.

Less wealthy countries may or may not be built to high standards, or people might just have to put up with being cold.

People in countries where it gets really cold will also have clothing more suitable to very cold weather - we don't because we will be too warm in it.

I went outside this morning and thought about how cold it was while I was defrosting the car, but then told myself to get over myself as -1 C or whatever it was isn't cold at all and there are plenty of countries where it really is dangerously cold - they were saying on the news that frostbite and hypothermia were a real risk after a few minutes outside.

Ah OP, so it's all down to good quality building and insulation. Makes complete sense- my work building was thrown up and is either freezing in winter or boiling in summer!

My new build is much warmer and cheaper to run than friends' period houses. I'd rate my chances of survival as higher than theirs.

I wonder how cold it would have to get before employers would start abandoning their stupid policy of penalising employees who are una6to make it in to work due to the weather. Not everyone can work from home. TBH I think the government would have to step in, but I suspect they wouldn't want to.

We have horses so winter tyres on my car are essential. I'm happy to drive in snow and ice as it's four wheel drive, and will often stock up on supplies for neighbours in crappy weather.

We ski, so we all have proper cold-weather stuff, silk glove liners, thermals and salopettes, so we'd be fine to trek out for essentials.

We also get large 'dumps' of snow each winter as we're in a valley, so we're used to just getting on with it. We have a Neighbourhood Watch locally so we tend to keep an eye on anyone vulnerable or alone in bad weather conditions.

I don't think we'd struggle for long; it becomes habit after a while and you just get used to it. The only thing we struggle with in very cold weather is the dogs; they're both used to being outdoors most days with us, and in snow they want to run and barrel about but they also get cold quickly and it's hard tiring them out enough. DH had the genius idea of setting up a treadmill in the garage for them last winter and the spaniel went absolutely bezerk and is now terrified of the garage.

My car wasn't happy at all this morning at about minus 2 but it did start. I don't reckon it would start at all if it were - 40 or something.

I do think people panic too much where I live mind you - I've known schools to shut at the first flurry of snow. They even shut before snow came on the basis of a forecast last year, and of course it didn't end up snowing at all!! Not being able to cope with a few inches of snow is one thing but shutting everything down because there MIGHT be snow is another level of insanity.

Stupidity would get us, just watching a wheelie bin company jet washing bins across the road it’s -1C here with ice on the roads. Wonder what the water will do that they’ve just washed my neighbours sparkling bin with

I was one of the few managing to drive around in scotland in 2010 when it was really bad and that was in a clio. I'll manage.

But sadly a lot wouldn't, like most winters here really though where some have to choose between heating and food.

Tinkly new builds have got better as tighter building regs have forced them to and it is true that there are older houses have far poorer insulation. Most Victorian & Edwardian houses are awful!

I've lived in a wide variety (from Norman pretty much all the way through the eras) and am currently in a property that is only 9 years old. Sadly, whilst it is good, it doesn't even begin to compare to the kind of insulation I've seen in Scandi countries.

It's not just that though, would ambulances make it on the roads, could food deliveries be made, would all our pipes break, would emergency services be able to cope?

If it were just for a day or two, most would probably be fine, but I wonder if it were for a week, what would happen?

if it were for a week, what would happen?

First on the menu would be my dickhead neighbour who created a death trap by flinging a load of water over the pavement when defrosting his car this morning.

Evolution has somewhat been replaced by technology/development, that's why!

In the good old epochs, a species had to survive and breed in order to develop heat/cold/desert survival features. Humans have circumvented the physical rules (juries still out on the longterm success of that strategy).

In the UK, our tech/development is aimed at a milder, temperate climate. There's an argument that our global success historically owes no small part to the reliability of weather that is relatively easy to feed our (historical) population, and weather that also doesn't kill us/destroy our infrastructure.

It might not stay that way of course.