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Sam Penrod ReportingIt is cold outside and it hasn't been this cold for a long time. We have to go back all the way to 1996 to find a time when the mercury dropped this low. These bitter cold temperatures affect all of us, especially those who have to work outside.
Beyond the inconvenience of being out in this kind of cold--the big chill over Utah right now is causing some real problems. To be outside at night, even for a moment, is guaranteed to remind you that winter is still here.
The coldest temperatures since 1996 affect all of us, especially those who are homeless. The Road Home shelter is expecting more people who are homeless to ask for help.
Matt Minkevitch , "The Road Home": "As the temperatures drop, our numbers steadily climb. Last night we had well over 800 people for whom we provided emergency shelter."
The cold is also damaging property. A broken fire sprinkler caused hundreds of dollars in damage to a brand new office building in West Jordan. And roofing contractors' phones are ringing off the hook lately.
The problem-- so called "ice-dams", which block melting snow from running off the roof, are creating pools of water that can cause serious leaks.
Ron Case, Roofing Contractor: "It's not a typical winter. It's quite a bit colder and it's mostly on the north sides of the house, in the shaded areas where you are seeing all the damages."
And even for veterans who have lived where it's really cold, the temperatures right now in Utah are making them homesick.
Julianne: "I grew up in Chicago and it's this cold. Yes, yes this feels like Chicago weather, not Utah weather."
And the most common problem from these cold temperatures is frozen water pipes. The best thing you can do is run a small stream of water from one of your taps to prevent your pipes from freezing.
