WEST MICHIGAN — With wind chills running well below zero the next two days, you may be interested in looking at the National Weather Service wind chill chart where “what it feels like temperatures” are derived.
When looking at the chart you’ll notice temperatures can be found across the top. Wind speed is on the left. Wind chills generally increase in one of two ways: First, as temperatures fall, the “feels like” temperature gets colder. Second, as wind speed increases, the “feels like” temperature gets colder.
Notice the medium blue coloring shows approximate frostbite times that will generally occur in about 30 minutes when exposed. The darker blue colors indicate that frostbite can occur within about ten minutes, while the purple colors indicate it takes only five minutes for frostbite to occur.
Ears, fingers, toes, and noses are traditionally the first things to succumb to frostbite since they’re usually exposed. Our weather on Monday and Tuesday with wind chills are expected to be in the -20 to -30 degree range, which according to the chart, means that frostbite can occur in just 30 minutes.
You can always get current temperatures and wind chills by going to www.fox17online.com/weather.
