ORLANDO, Fla. – Get ready, Central Florida, another cold blast is heading our way!
Even though February kicked off warm, winter isn’t done with us yet.
Looks like winter’s just took a little break and will come back with a chill over the next few days.
And guess what? It’s not just Florida that’s in for the cold. A large part of the U.S. is about to get hit with some dangerously cold temperatures.
You’ve probably heard your local meteorologist warning about how cold it’s going to get, then BAM, they mention the wind chill.
But why is that such a big deal? And how do you even measure wind chill? Let’s break it down.
Temperatures are going to dip into the 30s and 40s early Friday morning in the Orlando area, but with the wind chill, it’s going to feel even colder. Some places across Central Florida will feel like it’s in the 20s! Not exactly your typical Florida weather, right?
The wind chill reading is all about how the air temperature and wind combine to affect how cold it feels on your skin. Basically, the colder the air and the higher the wind speed, the chillier it’s going to feel when you step outside. So even if the temperatures doesn’t change, if the wind picks up, it’ll feel a lot colder.
How is wind chill calculated?
A formula is used that takes both the wind speed and temperature into account. It’s kind of like an “apparent temperature”—basically, how cold it feels on your skin. The equation only works when the air temperature is at or below 50 degrees and wind speeds are above 3 mph.
Scientists have studied how wind affects our skin, and this formula is based on those studies.
So, when you see a certain temperature and wind speed, the wind chill tells you what your body will feel as it loses heat.
Why do we use it?
It helps give a better idea as to how long it would take hypothermia or frost bite to happen.
But a quick note—wind chill doesn’t apply to pets and pipes.
The faster the wind, the quicker your body heat is lost, making it feel even colder.
What should you do when the National Weather Service issues a cold weather advisory, freeze watch or warning?
The best move? Stay indoors during the coldest parts of the day, bring pets in and cover sensitive vegetation.
If you do have to go out, bundle up in layers, cover any exposed skin and let someone know where you’re headed.
Stay warm, everyone!