Love it or hate it, wind chill is real. We break down 5 myths
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When the temperature drops, weather forecasts start to include wind chill.
It is a much-maligned term trotted out during our long and cold winters that folks either love or love to hate.
So let's take a look at the most common myths.
Because it's not a measured atmospheric condition, wind chill can be divisive. Some hate the term and think it's misleading, but the principle behind wind chill is very real, even if the value is a calculation not a measurement.
When it's cold out, our bodies will warm up a thin layer of air next to our skin. If the wind picks up, that layer of air is removed and the air up against our skin is once again cooler. Your body will keep trying to warm up that layer of air, and the wind will keep removing it — which will cool you down faster.
When you hear someone say "it's minus 50 out!" they are probably talking about the wind chill and not the temperature. In Canada, parts of the north can get to -50 C, thanks to the high latitude, but in much of Alberta and Saskatchewan, even getting to a true -30 C is more rare than you might think.
Temperature is an atmospheric condition that is measured. You can go outside right now with a thermometer and get a temperature reading.
Wind chill is calculated using a given temperature and wind speed to give you that "feels like" value. In other words, it's what the air feels like on your exposed skin.
Speaking from experience, I would be careful with this one because frostbite is no fun.
If it's calm, maybe that statement is true — depending on how long you're outside. But if the wind is whipping, that's when you run into trouble.
Wind chill is used in weather reports to show you the risk of frostbite on exposed skin. Depending on the wind chill, it takes a certain amount of time for your skin to freeze — the higher the wind chill, the faster you will get frostbite.
So if the wind chill is reported at -30, it will take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes for your skin to freeze.
If it's a really blustery and frigid day, and the wind chill is -50, you can get frostbite in just two to five minutes.
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This story is part of CBC Health's Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.