Winter storms, ice, heat waves, and wind chill:

San Antonio weather often goes from one extreme to the other.  Bitter cold winters followed by hot summers are not unusual.  Although not frequent, the city has experienced snow, ice, and winter storms with below freezing temperatures.

What is Wind Chill Temperature?

It 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.

What does this mean to me?

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.

What is Frostbite?

Frostbite is an injury to the body caused by freezing body tissue. The most susceptible parts of the body are the extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose Symptoms include a loss of feeling in the extremity and a white or pale appearance. Medical attention is needed immediately for frostbite. The area should be SLOWLY re-warmed.

What is Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature (below 95 degrees Fahrenheit). Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. Medical attention is needed immediately. If it is not available, begin warming the body SLOWLY.

Tips on how to dress during cold weather.

• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Trapped air between the layers will insulate you. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded.
• Wear a hat, because 40% of your body heat can be lost from your head.
• Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
• Try to stay dry and out of the wind.

The chart shown on the next page can be used to assist you in estimating the wind chill.

Action

If there is severe weather during the normal work day, the senior member of the Crisis Management Team available on site at the time will decide whether or not to evacuate the building, send the staff home, and cancel classes or to seek shelter in-place.

If there is severe weather after normal work hours, the senior member of the Crisis Management Team available on site at the time of the power failure or the Security Guard will decide whether or not to evacuate the building and cancel classes or have everyone seek shelter in-place for safety.  In the absence of the Security Guard any instructor on site can make that determination.

In 2001, NWS implemented an updated Wind chill Temperature (WCT) index. The change improves upon the former WCT Index used by the NWS and the Meteorological Services of Canada, which was based on the 1945 Siple and Passel Index.

The current formula uses advances in science, technology, and computer modeling to provide a more accurate, understandable, and useful formula for calculating the dangers from winter winds and freezing temperatures.

If you are viewing this page with on-line Internet access then you can click here to download the Wind chill brochure in PDF format. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/images/wind-chill-brochure.pdf

 Also on-line there is a wind chill index calculator which may be viewed at http://www.sa.wbu.edu/NWS_Wind_Chill_Index.htm

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