Wind Speed vs. Air Temperature
Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined effects of the wind and cold. In other words, how cold it actually "feels".
How to read the chart: find the wind speed on the left hand side, then move to the right until you find the column for the temperature. That number will be the temperature that it will "feel" like. Example: A wind speed of 20 mph and temperature of 20 will "feel" like 4 degrees.
(mph)
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40
-45
5
31
25
19
13
7
1
-5
-11
-16
-22
-28
-34
-40
-46
-52
-57
-63
10
27
21
15
9
3
-4
-10
-16
-22
-28
-35
-41
-47
-53
-59
-66
-72
15
25
19
13
6
0
-7
-13
-19
-26
-32
-39
-45
-51
-58
-64
-71
-77
20
24
17
11
4
-2
-9
-15
-22
-29
-35
-42
-48
-55
-61
-68
-74
-81
25
23
16
9
3
-4
-11
-17
-24
-31
-37
-44
-51
-58
-64
-71
-78
-84
30
22
15
8
1
-5
-12
-19
-26
-33
-39
-46
-53
-60
-67
-73
-80
-87
35
21
14
7
0
-7
-14
-21
-27
-34
-41
-48
-55
-62
-69
-76
-82
-89
40
20
13
6
-1
-8
-15
-22
-29
-36
-43
-50
-57
-64
-71
-78
-84
-91
45
19
12
5
-2
-9
-16
-23
-30
-37
-44
-51
-58
-65
-72
-79
-86
-93
50
19
12
4
-3
-10
-17
-24
-31
-38
-45
-52
-60
-67
-74
-81
-88
-95
55
18
11
4
-3
-11
-18
-25
-32
-39
-46
-54
-61
-68
-75
-82
-89
-97
| Frostbite Times | |
| 30 minutes | |
| 10 minutes | |
| 5 minutes |
Or calculate the wind chill:
| Symptoms | First Aid | |
|---|---|---|
| Frostbite | Loss of feeling and a white appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose. | If symptoms are detected, get medical attention immediately! If you must wait for help, slowly rewarm affected areas. However, if the person is also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core before the extremities. |
| Hypothermia | Uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speach, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. | If medical care is not available, begin warming the person slowly. Warm the body core first. If needed, use your own body heat to help. Get the person into dry clothing, and wrap them in a warm blanket covering the head and neck. Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any hot beverage or food; warm broth is better. Do not warm extremities (arms and legs) first! This drives the cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heart failure. |
Winter Deaths
Related to ice and snow:
- about 70% occur in automoblies.
- about 25% are people caught out in the storm.
- the majority are males over 40 years old.
- 50% are people over 60 years old.
- over 75% are males.
- about 20% occur in the home.
Safety Tips
- If you have to go outside in extreme cold, dress for the conditions:
- wear several layers of light-weight, warm clothing.
- outer garments should be tightly woven, waterproof and hooded.
- wear a hat...90% of heat loss is through the head.
- for the hands, mittens are better then gloves...and make sure they are snug at the wrists.
- Avoid overextertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to chill and hypothermia.
