FARGO — The wind chill factor is often misunderstood and sometimes overused. That being said, it is not worthless. Some people believe that wind chill is just hype and that only the temperature and wind speed should be reported. Actually, wind chill is an effective way for people to gauge the increased danger of frostbite and hypothermia during cold and windy weather.
The wind chill formula is based on science and has been empirically tested on actual humans. Granted, many people who use wind chill do not understand that it represents an effect on the cooling rate of your skin and is not actually a different temperature. It is also true that some weather reporters probably overuse wind chill numbers, particularly in fall and spring when the cold is not so life-threatening. Nevertheless, wind chill is a helpful and effective way to communicate the extra danger of wind during cold weather.
The Trust Project
