This is how wind chill is calculated: Below freezing temperatures expected in the Midwest this winter

In case you hadn’t heard, or already felt it, this winter is and will continue to be colder than usual in many parts of the United States, with the Midwest set to be among the regions most affected.

In December, a report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) revealed average spending on home heating this winter would rise to $941 from $866 last year, an increase of 8.7%, partly due to the increasing cost of maintaining the electricity grid but also due to lower temperatures.

Meanwhile, according to the National Weather Service, a huge winter storm extending 1,300 miles across the country is expected to affect up to 62 million people between Saturday and Monday.

The weather agency has warned of a 60% to 90% chance of at least eight inches of snow on Sunday from central Kansas to Ohio, which could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade for some areas. Kansas and Missouri in particular could potentially experience up to 14 inches of snow.

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect in at least 12 states, including Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, West Virginia, Kansas, Montana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Nebraska.

These areas, and undoubtedly others, will be affected by windchill, which makes it feel much colder than the thermometer will measure.

How is windchill defined?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), windchill measures the “effect of the cold wind on people and animals,” looking at “the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it removes heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature”. This video from Idaho News provides a helpful description as well.

How is windchill calculated?

The example provided by the agency shows that if a thermometer is reading 0°F (-18°C), and wind in the area “is blowing at 15 mph (13 kt / 24 km/h),” it will feel like it is -19°F (-28°C) outside. Measuring the windchill is critical to keeping people and animals safe during periods of extreme cold. To help out, NOAA provides a chart that allows viewers to figure out the windchill in their area by identifying the intersection between wind (mph) and temperature (°F).

At -19°F, the risk of frostbite is extreme and could occur in just a few minutes.

Tips on how you can stay warm

The threat of cold temperatures cannot be overstated. Given that major storms can lead to power outages, it is advised that residents of towns and cities know where to go or how to contact the authorities if their electricity fails. Getting to a warming center or alerting the authorities so you can be transported to one can be the difference between life and death when temperatures drop and winter weather follows.

Other tips may seem obvious but are worth highlighting given their importance.

Aside from staying inside with the heater on, people can take a few steps to stay warm as temperatures fall. The first is to layer up, which creates a larger buffer between your body and the cold and is extremely important if you are heading outside. People tend to lose a lot of heat from their heads, so throwing a hat on can help your body retain heat.

Additionally, eating warm foods and drinking warm beverages throughout the day can help keep your body temperature up.

NOAA also advises those who live alone to have someone, be it a family member or neighbor, check in on them during major storms.

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