The winter season brings a variety of adverse weather extremes. You may experience heavy snow, ice accumulation, freezing temperatures and wind chill. Winter storms are often called the “deceptive killers” since many deaths can be attributed to indirect causes of adverse weather. For example, icy roads lead to an increase in traffic accidents. Prolonged exposure to the cold may enhance chances for hypothermia, and stress from snow removal my increase changes for heart related problems. It is important to recognize the different types of extreme weather that can be experienced during the winter season. Exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible. What constitutes extreme cold varies in different parts of the country. In the South, near freezing temperatures are considered extreme cold. Freezing temperatures can cause severe damage to citrus fruit crops and other vegetation. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes that are poorly insulated or without heat. In the North, extreme cold means temperatures well below zero. With a snow cover, an arctic cold wave hit northeast Kentucky during January of 1994. Dawn on Wednesday January 19th had observed temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees below zero. Ashland had 25 below zero, while Grayson had 31 degrees below zero. It was one of the coldest mornings in recorded history for northeast Kentucky.
Wind Chill is the temperature it “feels like” outside and is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, the body is cooled at a faster rate causing the skin temperature to drop. Wind Chill does not impact inanimate objects like car radiators and exposed water pipes, because these objects cannot cool below the actual air temperature. The NWS will inform you when Wind Chill conditions reach critical thresholds. A Wind Chill Warning is issued when wind chill temperatures are life threatening. A Wind Chill Advisory is issued when wind chill temperatures are potentially hazardous. Exposure to low wind chill values may increase your chances of frostbite. Frostbite is an injury to the body caused by freezing body tissue.
