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Cold
Weather |
| Cold temperatures and high winds wind can create life threatening
conditions during the Winter. Read more about it below. |
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About Wind
Chill |
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| Winter in Arkansas is generally not harsh...at least not as brutal as in
areas farther north. Even so, Arctic fronts make it this far south at
times...and it can become cold. The
question is: How cold does it get and how should you protect
yourself when temperatures plummet? |
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| During the Winter months, temperatures will periodically
drop below freezing (32 degrees)...with readings below 0 degrees on rare
occasions. Now let's factor in the wind. With increased wind speeds, it feels
colder than it actually is. |
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| WIND CHILL INDEX °F |
| |
WIND SPEED (MPH) |
| TEMP (°F) |
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
| -25 |
-40 |
-47 |
-51 |
-55 |
-58 |
-60 |
-62 |
-64 |
| -20 |
-34 |
-41 |
-45 |
-48 |
-51 |
-53 |
-55 |
-57 |
| -15 |
-28 |
-35 |
-39 |
-42 |
-44 |
-46 |
-48 |
-50 |
| -10 |
-22 |
-28 |
-32 |
-35 |
-37 |
-39 |
-41 |
-43 |
| -5 |
-16 |
-22 |
-26 |
-29 |
-31 |
-33 |
-34 |
-36 |
| 0 |
-11 |
-16 |
-19 |
-22 |
-24 |
-26 |
-27 |
-29 |
| 5 |
-5 |
-10 |
-13 |
-15 |
-17 |
-19 |
-21 |
-22 |
| 10 |
1 |
-4 |
-7 |
-9 |
-11 |
-12 |
-14 |
-15 |
| 15 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
-2 |
-4 |
-5 |
-7 |
-8 |
| 20 |
13 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
-1 |
| 25 |
19 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
| 30 |
25 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
| 35 |
31 |
27 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
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| A Wind Chill Index Chart is shown
above. For an image, click here. |
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| The
"wind chill index" is considered dangerous when temperature and
wind speed combine to
make it feel like 0 degrees or lower. For example, using the chart
above...a
temperature of 15 degrees with a wind speed of 25 mph net a wind chill index of
-4 degrees. Other than the chart, try using our meteorological
calculator by clicking here.
When wind chill index values reach 0 degrees
for several hours over a fairly large area (with a wind speed of at least 10
mph)...the National Weather Service will usually issue
a Wind Chill Advisory.
When wind chill index values reach -15 degrees
for one hour over a fairly large area (with a wind speed of at least 10 mph)...a
Wind Chill Warning may be posted.
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Current Wind Chill Index Values |
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| NOTE: For Wind Chill Index values, look for
WCI in REMARKS.
If WCI is N/A (not available), then there is data
missing such as temperature (TMP) or wind speed (WIND)...or
WCI is above 35 degrees.
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WEATHER ROUNDUP FOR ARKANSAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1100 PM CDT SUN SEP 21 2008
CITY SKY/WX TMP WIND REMARKS
FAYETTEVILLE CLEAR 60 CALM WCI N/A (b)
FORT SMITH CLEAR 68 NE3 WCI N/A (b)
HARRISON CLOUDY 63 SE6 WCI N/A (b)
BATESVILLE CLEAR 64 CALM WCI N/A (b)
JONESBORO PTCLDY 65 CALM WCI N/A (b)
LITTLE ROCK CLEAR 69 NE5 WCI N/A (b)
N LITTLE ROCK CLEAR 69 E5 WCI N/A (b)
WEST MEMPHIS CLEAR 66 CALM WCI N/A (b)
HOT SPRINGS CLEAR 68 CALM WCI N/A (b)
RUSSELLVILLE CLEAR 70 E3 WCI N/A (b)
MOUNT IDA FOG 63 CALM WCI N/A (b)
TEXARKANA CLEAR 66 CALM WCI N/A (b)
EL DORADO CLEAR 69 CALM WCI N/A (b)
PINE BLUFF CLEAR 68 E3 WCI N/A (b)
MONTICELLO CLEAR 70 CALM WCI N/A (b)
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Black color (b): Above dangerous WCI value or no
WCI value available (N/A).
Light blue color (l): Approaching dangerous
WCI value (1 to
6 degrees). Frostbite and hypothermia are possible with prolonged exposure to the cold.
Dark blue color (d): Dangerous WCI value (0 to
-14 degrees).
Frostbite and hypothermia are likely with prolonged
exposure to the cold.
Purple color (p): Very dangerous
WCI value (-15 degrees or below)...
and not often reached in Arkansas. Frostbite and hypothermia are becoming more
likely with prolonged exposure to the cold.
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Current
Wind Chill Index Graphic |
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Cold
Disorders (Symptoms) |
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| Extreme cold can affect you physically
if you're not careful. Read about symptoms
below. |
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| FROSTBITE: This occurs when your body tissue
freezes. A loss of feeling and/or a white or pale appearance will be
noted. Areas most susceptible are fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip
of the nose. HYPOTHERMIA: Body temperature drops below 95
degrees....with uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapse,
frequent stumbling, drowsiness or exhaustion. |
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Cold
Disorders (First Aid) |
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| If you or someone else has been affected adversely by
the cold,
below are some first aid suggestions. |
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FROSTBITE and HYPOTHERMIA: Warm the person (or
affected areas) slowly and seek immediate
medical assistance. Warm the body core first, not the
extremities. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of
the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart
failure. Use your own body heat to help. Put the person in dry clothing
and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
Do not administer something with caffeine in it (like coffee or tea) or
alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and
hasten the effects the cold has on the body. Alcohol, a depressant, can
slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body
temperatures. |
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Staying
Warm/No Overexertion |
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If you must be outside for any length of time,
wear several layers of loose-fitting, light-weight
clothing. The layers actually trap warm air, and keep the cold
air out. |
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| In addition to a coat and scarf, wear a hat and
mittens as well (since more than half of your body's heat escapes through
your head and hands). Also, you might want to cover your mouth to protect
your lungs from the cold. |
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| Don't forget about your pets! If you leave them
outdoors, you might consider providing something warm like a blanket or
sweater (especially short haired animals with little natural protection). |
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| In addition to dressing for the weather,
don't overexert yourself! The cold is
already taxing your body. Inhaling cold air is hard on internal organs...and
causes the body to work overtime to stay warm. Any added exercise (such as
shovelling) will cause the body to break down faster (especially those who
are elderly or unfit)...with heart attacks fairly common during Winter.
Overexerting yourself during the cold months is not necessary! When you feel
tired, stop what you are doing and finish the job later. Or...get help from
a neighbor or friend. |
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For more
about cold weather and safety information from the National Weather Service, click
here. |
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www.weather.gov
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