Calculating wind chill - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports

As the impacts of this weekend's arctic cold front continue to settle into the region, the wind chill factor will be an important part of the forecast. 

Wind chill is a calculated value that combines the actual air temperature with the speed of the wind.  The index provides a "feel-like" temperature, or the the value exposed skin senses when it is in the elements. 

Though winds are not expected to be very strong on Monday or Tuesday, even a light wind can provide for a low wind chill temperature when the actual air temperature is low.  Forecast highs are not expected to top 0 Monday or Tuesday.  With winds from the northwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour, wind chill temperatures could go as low as -35 on Monday night.  

According to the National Weather Service, the wind chill factor is calculated using the wind speed at approximately five feet above the Earth's surface, or average height of an adult's face. 

The attached photo is the official NWS Windchill Chart that shows the relationship between air temperature, wind speed and the amount of time frostbite can develop.

(Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service)