An Explanation of Wind Chill

We’ve all been hearing the term “wind chill” lately, but what does that really mean?

Our bodies naturally produce heat. However, when the conditions turn cold, our body’s heat escapes us and is absorbed by the surrounding air. The surrounding air will create a nice, thin layer of warmth on the surface of our skin. The thin layer of warmth acts as an insulator to shield us from the cold.

However, when the wind begins to pick up, that thin layer of warmth is blown away. Since our body has lost its insulator, our skin will be directly exposed to the cold temperatures around us. This is the reason it seems colder than it actually is. The mercury in the thermometer will remain the same with or without the presence of wind.

Wind chill, as defined by the National Weather Service, is how cold people and animals feel when exposed to the elements. It has been found that wind chill temperatures do not affect inanimate objects such as a car radiator or water pipes. Those objects can only be as cold as the actual temperature around them.

The National Weather Service has created a nice graphic regarding wind chill temperatures:

To calculate the wind chill of your area you can simply go to the Kentucky Mesonet site. Find your temperature and wind speed, then use the chart above to find the wind chill. The chart is color coded to give you an approximation of the time it will take to acquire frostbite.

Be sure to check out this nice webpage developed by the National Weather Service for more information regarding the wind chill and its effects.