Every once in a while, I see someone I know must be from out of town.

"How are your settling into our warmer climate here in Southeastern Arizona? Do you miss your friends in Saskatchewan?"

I wanted to ask that question to the teenage boy I saw in basketball shorts and a t-shirt outside a local eatery last night. He seemed entirely unphased by the sudden cold snap.

There were adults who I took to be his parents close by. While they were clad in clothing that seemed more seasonally appropriate than the what the kid was wearing, their light jackets and complete lack of shivering made them seem far less bothered by the extreme cold as the stood casually chatting before climbing into their cars.

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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The wind was whipping my parka and nearly tore my scarf off, while my teeth were chattering uncontrollably. The sun was setting, and the temperature had dropped to around 45 degrees. The business end of the wind made the air feel even colder.

Alright, I'm exaggerating a bit here. Maybe it's not EXTREMELY cold. Forty-six degrees (and falling) is nothing compared to the negative temps in some parts of the country, but I'd like to mention that it ACTUALLY snowed in Sierra Vista on the same morning, so I think that day qualifies as extreme cold. At least for us.

Snowfall from the Author's Backyard. Credit: Val Davidson/TSM
Snowfall from the Author's Backyard. Credit: Val Davidson/TSM
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5 Ways You Know You're Dealing Arizona Natives When the Temperatures Fall

1. Excitment when flurries fall from the sky. First, they get excited. Then they grab some photos of the snow. Then they carry on with their lives like nothing happened later in the afternoon when the snow disappears for good.

Cold and Snow outside the K101 Studios. Val Davidson/TSM
Cold and Snow outside the K101 Studios. Val Davidson/TSM
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2. They have no way to scrape ice from their windshields. Their mom, who lives in Michigan, bought them an ice scraper once, but it hasn't been seen in years.

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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3. They talk about "going to the snow". They plan to spend some time in Carr or Miller Canyon this weekend, making snow people and having snowball fights. Cause that's where we keep the snow. Sensibly tucked away in the higher elevations.

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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4. They go to Miller Canyon and are surprised to discover it's too cold for the thin little hoodie they brought. And there's no way they've got gloves. Anywhere.

Dogs in Snow. Credit: Canva
Dogs in Snow. Credit: Canva
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5. They bring their dog to Miller Canyon and he is wholly unimpressed with this soggy, cold, white stuff. I mean, seriously, the dog is obviously thinking, who lives like this?

If you were raised in Arizona or if you've been here at least five years, you're native. Don't bother pulling out that giant, padded overcoat your grandma sent you last Christmas. You won't need it next week anyway.

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