A typical Miami Valley winter will have its share of arctic blasts. And when the deep freeze strikes, outdoor exposure to the cold can become a serious risk to your health.

Wind chill simply describes what it feels like on exposed skin when the wind factors in with the cold temperatures. The wind helps to accelerate the cooling process of your body by removing heat via the surface of your skin.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington will issue a Wind Chill Advisory when wind-chill values drop to between minus 10 and minus 24 degrees, a threshold which is considered to be hazardous to one’s health when outside for a prolonged period.

If the wind chill is expected to drop as low as minus 25 degrees or colder, the NWS may then issue a wind-chill warning for conditions that are considered to be life threatening.

Extreme wind chills, especially 10 degrees below zero or colder, can induce frostbite on exposed areas of skin within minutes. Frostbite occurs when body tissue is damaged by extreme cold.

Extremities are the most common areas of the body that are susceptible to frostbite. Earlobes, fingers, toes, and even the tip of your nose can become frostbitten when extremely low temperatures and wind chill values are occurring.

And the brutal cold can bring deadly consequences. The onset of hypothermia, as with frostbite, is accelerated when temperatures and wind-chill values reach dangerously low levels.

Hypothermia can set in when low body temperatures occur, usually starting at below 95 degrees. This condition can quickly lead to unconsciousness and possibly death.

Protecting yourself from hypothermia and frostbite can be as simple as keeping exposed skin covered as well as keeping your clothing dry when outdoors.

The choice of items to wear can make a difference as well. For instance, mittens are better suited for extreme cold than regular leather gloves. Also, a hat that covers the ears will help to further minimize heat loss from your scalp, one of the greatest areas of potential heat loss on one’s body.

Information provided by Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek.

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