What is a ‘real feel’ temp? Winter storm brings bitter wind chills to metro-east
Belleville and surrounding areas will be under a winter storm warning and cold weather advisory this weekend, with the forecast calling for several inches of snow. St. Clair County could see 10 or more inches.
Cold temperatures will sweep through Friday, Jan. 23 with a high of just 10 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 6 expected in Belleville. The low Sunday, Jan. 25 is zero, and wind chills will be even colder.
“Widespread travel impacts are expected Saturday morning through Sunday, with the worst conditions most likely in southeast Missouri,” National Weather Service forecasters said in a Thursday report.
Forecasters are also warning of dangerous, subzero windchills throughout the weekend, as temperature lows are expected to drop to 10 and below. While that might seem brutally cold, factors like wind chill can make the weather more dangerous, especially for people exposed to the cold.
“If ambient temperature is 9 degrees, and it’s 10 miles-per-hour winds, that will give you a negative 5-degree wind chill,” Cliff Goff, a meteorologist with the NWS Louisville, Kentucky, office, told McClatchy News. “And 10 miles per hour isn’t that strong of a wind. So it doesn’t take much to get down into those really frigid temperatures, to exaggerate the real feel, to make it even colder.”
With ambient temperatures in the single digits and just a light breeze, frostbite can set in on any exposed skin within 30 minutes, according to the NWS.
To help you understand how cold it will feel this weekend and how to stay safe, we talk with Goff about what real feel temperatures mean. We also have tips to help you spot hypothermia symptoms and what to do when you see it setting in.
What are real feel temperatures?
The terms “real feel” and “feels like” temperatures often pop up in forecasts, but they’re not official weather terms.
The closest terms are the heat index, which combines air temperature and humidity to get at what warm weather feels like to the human body, and wind chill, which factors in wind speed and the cold.
Wind chill can make the ambient temperature feel much colder, but it also has a real effect on your body, Goff said.
“When wind is blowing, especially when it’s cold, it basically strips moisture from the body,” Goff said. “That small-scale evaporation is a cooling process, so it actually makes the skin feel colder.”
Severe wind chills can be dangerous for any exposed skin, but Goff added they can also lower the body’s average temperature, leading to hypothermia.
In the cold weather advisory, NWS officials advised metro-east residents to use caution when traveling outside and wear appropriate clothing, including a hat and gloves.
What are the signs and symptoms of hypothermia?
Be mindful of the early signs of hypothermia or frostbite, as explained by the Mount Sinai hospital system.
Early frostbite, called frostnip, looks like:
- Red and cold skin. The skin could start to turn white, but is still soft
- A tingling, prickling or numb sensation
- Stinging
Early symptoms of hypothermia include:
- Feeling very cold
- Shivering, which may stop as hypothermia progresses
- The “umbles.” These include stumbling, bumbling, grumbling or mumbling. These signs show the cold is getting to you and affecting your brain and body, inhibiting it
If you notice these warning signs, either in yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.
How should I dress for extremely cold weather?
If you do have to go outdoors in extremely cold weather, be mindful of what you wear. Cold winds, or wind chills, can rapidly sap warmth from any exposed skin and a good breeze can dramatically shorten the time it takes for frostbite to set in.
Dress in several layers and make sure to wear the right shoes in extreme cold. You want to keep warmth in as much as cold air out.
The Mount Sinai hospital system recommends you think about the following if you’re going to spend time outdoors in bitterly cold temperatures:
- Wear an inner layer of clothing designed to wick sweat away from your body. Think lightweight wool, polyester or similar fabrics. Avoid cotton as it offers poor insulation and absorbs moisture, trapping it near your skin and making you even colder.
- Grab a middle layer to keep heat in. Polyester fleece, wool or down are great options. You may even need several middle layers depending on what you’re doing outside.
- Choose an outer layer that will repel the wind, snow and rain. Fabric that is breathable and rain and wind resistant is ideal. The outer layer should be breathable because sweat will build up and make you cold.
You also need to protect your ears, face, neck, feet and hands — not just your body’s core.
Consider the following options:
- A warm hat, like a toboggan
- Something to cover your face, like a ski mask
- A scarf
- Mitten or gloves. Mittens will be warmer
- Wool socks
- Warm, waterproof shoes or snow boots. Skip the sneakers or tennis shoes
To avoid excessively sweating, you’ll need to manage your layers. Pull some off when you begin to feel too hot, and put some back on when you start to feel cold.
