Wind Chill | Risk of frostbite | Health Concern |
What to do |
---|---|---|---|
0 to -9 |
Low | - Slight increase in discomfort | - Dress warmly, with the outside temperature in mind. |
-10 to -27 |
Low | - Uncomfortable - Risk of hypothermia if outside for long periods without adequate protection |
- Dress in layers of warm clothing, with an outer layer that is wind-resistant. - Wear a hat, mittens and scarf. - Keep active. |
-28 to -39 |
Increasing risk: exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes | - Check face and extremities (fingers, toes, ears and nose) for numbness or whiteness - Risk of hypothermia if outside for long periods without adequate protection |
- Dress in layers of warm clothing, with an outer layer that is wind-resistant. - Cover exposed skin: wear a hat, mittens and a scarf, neck tube or face mask. - Keep active. |
-40 to -47 |
High risk: exposed skin can freeze in 5 to 10 minutes* | - Check face and extremities (fingers, toes, ears and nose) for numbness or whiteness (frostbite) - Risk of hypothermia if outside for long periods without adequate protection |
- Dress in layers of warm clothing, with an outer layer that is wind-resistant. - Cover all exposed skin: wear a hat, mittens and a scarf, neck tube or face mask. - Keep active. |
WARNING LEVEL** -48 to -54 |
High risk: exposed skin can freeze in 2 to 5 minutes* | - Check face and extremities frequently for numbness or whiteness (frostbite) - Serious risk of hypothermia if outside for long periods |
- Be careful. Dress very warmly in layers of clothing, with an outer layer that is wind-resistant. - Cover all exposed skin: wear a hat, mittens and a scarf, neck tube or face mask. - Be ready to cut short or cancel outdoor activities. - Keep active. |
-55 and colder | High risk: exposed skin can freeze in less than 2 minutes | DANGER! - Outdoor conditions are hazardous |
- Stay indoors. |
Yep, -55 and colder is when it's hazardous. Exposed skin freezes; it just does. The scary thing is, I've been outside on days like that, and it's not that much worse than what I'm about to go into. We're currently at -45, which doesn't even qualify as the "warning level" prior to "hazardous conditions".