What is Wind Chill and Why is it Important?

Understanding The Wind Chill Factor & Frostbite

"Wind Chill" is a misunderstood term. It is not a temperature scale but a measurement of heat loss from the combined effect of wind and low temperatures. Another way to look at the wind chill factor is that it is the temperature a person or pet feels because of the wind. If you've ever used a fan to cool yourself on a hot day, then you've felt the effects of a wind chill. A breeze doesn't make the temperature drop, but it can make it seem as if the temperature is cooler than it actually is. Here's how it works. The basic law of thermodynamics says that any object warmer than its surroundings will lose heat. Normally we have an invisible layer of "still" air on the surface of our skin that acts like a blanket of insulation and slows our loss of body heat. Blowing wind reduces this insulating layer of warm air next to our skin and increases our rate of heat loss. The faster the wind blows, the more quickly we lose heat. Secondly, wind draws away body heat by quickly evaporating any moisture that forms on the skin; the stronger the wind, the greater the evaporation and the colder you feel. The wind chill factor becomes critical when the air temperature drops below the freezing point. If wind is taking away heat faster than our bodies can replace it, we can end up with frostbite. The danger of frostbite increases sharply as the air temperature falls and the wind speed climbs. Frostbite occurs when skin and the underlying tissues freeze. The areas most likely to be affected by cold temperatures or low wind chill factor are the hands, feet, paws, tails, nose, and ears. If numbness remains, seek professional medical or veterinary care immediately. The following chart is a wind chill guide to winter danger and frostbite. The wind chill factors shown indicate the danger zones for when frostbite can occur within only 15 minutes of exposure. To use the information below you'll need to know two things. First: the actual temperature and secondly, a good guess at the wind speed. Note: for wind speeds under 5 miles per hour, there is no significant wind chill factor and for wind speeds above 45 miles per hour the wind has no further appreciable effect. Wind Chill / Frostbite Guidelines 30° F or greater. Chilly. Generally unpleasant. 15° F to - 30° F Cold. Unpleasant. 0° F to -15° F Very cold. Very unpleasant. - 0° F to - 20° F Bitter cold. Frostbite possible. 20° F to - 60° F Extremely cold. Frostbite likely. Outdoor activity becomes dangerous. -60° F or less Frigidly cold. Exposed flesh will freeze within 30 seconds. It's that time of year to stock up on your winter safety products at http://www.preparedpet.com/ Check out the wind chill chart from NOAA. Thank you to the folks at NOAA for a great explanation!