Snow Skills

An important part of outdoor recreation is understanding the impacts of weather and the effects of windchill are a huge influence on your comfort level in the winter.

Wind chill is the relative discomfort due to the combination of wind and weather conditions. At any time of the year, the presence of wind or precipitation can cause the current temperature to “feel” like conditions are colder than it is. In winter conditions, this discomfort can lead to distress in that very cold temperatures plus high winds can result in conditions that are extremely severe and could endanger you. The Wind Chill Index is a simple and accurate measurement of the level of distress that a combination of all the weather conditions represent.
Check out this wind chill chart, courtesy of NOAA, to get a clear look at a wind chill graphic.

Notice that a temperature of 40 degrees can quickly feel like below freezing in high winds. Pay the most attention to the numbers on this chart associated with below freezing temperatures and high winds:

• the medium blue zone represents risk of frostbite
• the dark blue zone represents risk of hypothermia
• the purple zone could be life-threatening

It’s important to note that wind chill effects humans, but has no significant impact on vehicles, equipment, or other objects. If it’s below freezing, the water in your uninsulated water bottle is going to freeze, regardless of the presence of sleet or wind. The effects of wind chill are about how the weather feels on your body and the best protection is to dress for winter weather adequately.

The rapid onset of wind can change weather conditions rapidly.  Understanding wind chills means to plan for the weather you could have instead of the weather you see at the beginning of the day.