Winter Weather is Cool, With Some Hazards

WINTER is Cold! ...but it can be fun and safe if you take steps to educate and protect yourself. Did you know that winter storms are now classified in a storm scale called The Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS)

Myth vs. Fact Myth: If it's 33 degrees and the wind chill is in the 20s, water (or your car engine) will freeze. Fact: wind chill only applies to flesh of warm blooded creatures (without fur), specifically humans.

Myth: wind chill makes everyone cold. Fact: wind chill only applies to exposed flesh so if you are bundled up in coat, gloves, hat, etc the wind chill is NOT an issue. The wind chill formula does not account for sunshine, nor the color of your clothes. If you are outside in a sheltered spot where the wind does not reach you, then there is no wind chill for you.

Myth: wind chill makes your house colder. Fact: Wind will remove heat faster from your house, and cold air will blow into your house through cracks but the house can not be colder than the actual air temperature, based on the wind.

Myth: The wind chill does not change very much on a cold day. Fact: The wind chill changes every time the wind changes so it's typical for it to fluctuate from 5 to 10 degrees, even within a minute, when the winds are gusty.

Myth: At 32 degrees pets should be brought inside. Fact: There's no difference to a pet between 33 and 32 degrees. Pets should be inside when it is very cold or cold for a long time. There is no magic number to when pets should be inside.

Myth: Frost is the same as freeze. Fact: The temperature can be way below freezing without frost when the air is dry. Frost can form when the air is above freezing if cold air settles to the ground.

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WINTER TIPS -Dress properly for the temperature and wind. Wear loose-fitting, light-weight clothing in layers. Layers help to trap air as an insulator and they can be removed to avoid perspiration and the chill that follows. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent and hooded. Always wear a hat. Half of your body's heat loss can occur through your head. Mittens are better than gloves because they allow your fingers to share heat. Avoid having skin exposed to the wind. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold. Stay dry. Check out this Wind Chill chart from NOAA.

-Check often on elderly and infants for safety and comfort and don't overexpose pets to very cold, dry air.

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Winter Weather is Cool, With Some Hazards