The Weather, Phlan

The weather around the northern coast of the Moonsea is cold and people dress accordingly with a fur cape or warm cloak all year around. Anyone who walks around in light clothing during cold weather is obviously either a fool or someone who is using magic to stay warm and doesn’t care if people know it (and thus a fool). Minor magic items that protect against the cold are in common among the wealthy people.

Temperature

Summers usually cool with highs about 16°C. Spring and autumn are routinely in the cold weather category (4°C or below), and winter is usually in the severe cold category (–18°C or below), often dipping into extreme cold (below –29°C) several times over the course of the winter.
The inns in Phlan usually have a small number of large rooms to reduces the number of fireplaces needed and the overall risk of fire. Most inns have just one large common room heated by a large hearth. The places with smaller rooms tend to use closed metal braziers full of hot coals to offset the chill. Food served during the winter months are usually “pottage”, a stew of boiled vegetables and grains. Everything goes into the pot including onions, peas, beans, lentils and herbs. The pottage is supplemented by cheese, eggs and the occasional meat or fish.
The lake itself is cold enough to kill a swimmer even in the summer. It is fed by glacial meltwater from the surrounding mountains. Thus most people, even those working the waters, cannot swim. In the winter months much of the lake freezes over, making it possible to cross it on foot or horse.