You've likely heard about "wind chill" on the daily weather report. Wind Chill is the term used to describe the rate of heat loss on the human body due to the the effect of cold temperatures and wind.
As winds increase, heat is carried away from the body at a faster rate, driving down both the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature.
CURRENT WIND CHILL
WHAT OBJECTS ARE IMPACTED BY WIND CHILL?
While exposure to low wind chills can be life threatening to both humans and animals alike, only living things are impacted by wind chill.
The only effect wind chill has on inanimate objects, such as car radiators and water pipes, is to shorten the amount of time for the object to cool. The inanimate object will not cool below the actual air temperature. For example, if the temperature outside is -5 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind chill temperature is -31 degrees Fahrenheit, then your car's radiator will not drop lower than -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
CAN I GET FROSTBITE IF THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE FREEZING?
The air temperature has to be BELOW freezing in order for frostbite to develop on exposed skin. Wind chill can bring the temperature to below freezing for humans and animals.
However, it IS possible to get "hypothermia." Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Determine this by taking your temperature. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and exhaustion. Get medical attention immediately. If you can't get help quickly, begin warming the body SLOWLY. Warm the body core first, NOT the extremities
