SPOKANE, Wash. — The wind chill in Spokane dropped to -5° on Monday morning.
But have you ever stopped to think what makes "wind chill" different than the temperature? Well, the obvious answer is that the wind makes the air "feel" colder. "Wind chill" is sometimes referred to as "feels-like temperature." But the value isn't just pulled from thin air, it's a calculated reading.
"Why does the air feel colder when there's wind?" There's a couple reasons for that. First, our warm bodies at 98.6° radiate heat all the time. The colder the air is around us, the faster our bodies lose heat, and even a gentle breeze insures that fresh cold air is present.
Next is where the wind comes into play. Wind assists in the evaporation of water and the stronger the wind means faster evaporation. Our body's moisture from our skin is what evaporates and when the wind is faster, so too is the evaporation process. Evaporation uses heat and our bodies supply that heat.
The combination of cold temperatures and high winds causes the air to "feel" much colder as a result, especially to your face and fingers if they are not covered.
At a point, extremities like your fingers, toes, ears and nose are at risk for frostbite.
When the wind chill is -20°, exposed skin will become frostbitten after about 30 minutes. A wind chill of -40° takes only 10 minutes and -60° only takes 5 minutes to get frostbite.
Hypothermia is when your body's core temperature drops, like the opposite of a fever. At 95° symptoms of hypothermia kick in like slurred speech, confusion and uncontrollable shivering. Hypothermia is life-threatening and you should call 911 if you suspect someone has hypothermia.
It is vital to dress and act appropriately for winter weather. Wear several layers, with a hat and mittens, and limit time outdoors to protect yourselves from frostbite and hypothermia.