It is day 4 of Alabama’s Winter Weather Awareness Week! Today, we are highlighting some important terms to know when it comes to cold weather.
Wind Chill – This is a measure of how cold the outside air feels to your skin. The wind chill temperature will be lower than the actual temperature on cold days. When it is cold and windy outside, your body is not able to maintain its heat as much as it normally does. This is why it feels much cooler on windy days where the wind chill temperature is low.
Frostbite – A condition where damage is done to body tissue after being exposed to extremely cold air. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance to extremities (e.g. fingers, toes, ears, or the tip of the nose). If symptoms are detected, seek medical attention immediately! A wind chill of -20°F will cause frostbite in just 30 minutes.
Hypothermia – A condition brought on when the body temperature drops below 95°F. This is a very serious condition. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and exhaustion. Seek immediate medical care if you believe you or someone around you has hypothermia!
Category: Alabama’s Weather, ALL POSTS, Social Media, Winter Weather
About the Author (Author Profile)
Scott is a senior at Mississippi State University studying professional and broadcast meteorology.
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