Is the wind cold?

The wind may feel cold, but it is not cold or warm in itself. The experience of wind chill depends on several factors, such as air temperature, wind speed and the person’s own body temperature. In this article, we will look at why the wind feels cold and what factors contribute to this feeling.

Why does the wind feel cold?

The feeling of wind chill is mainly due to the following reasons:

• Cooling effect of the wind: When the wind blows on the skin, it removes heat from the body faster than still air. This is because the wind carries away the layer of warm air that normally surrounds the body and replaces it with colder air.
• Evaporation: Wind also increases evaporation from the surface of the skin. When sweat evaporates from the skin, it takes heat with it, which makes the skin feel cooler.
• Air temperature: If the air temperature is low, the wind can feel particularly cold. In cold air, the cooling effect of the wind becomes even more pronounced.

Cooling effect of the wind

The cooling effect of the wind is also known as “wind chill”. This phenomenon describes how cold the air feels when the effect of wind is added to it. For example, if the air temperature is -5 °C and the wind speed is 20 km/h, the air can feel as low as -12 °C. This is because wind removes heat from the body faster than still air.

The effect of wind on clothing

The feeling of the coldness of the wind also affects how we should dress in cold weather. It is important to protect the body from the wind so as not to lose too much heat. Here are some tips:

1. Layered clothing: Dress in several layers so you can adjust your clothing as needed. The layers also help to insulate the heat.
2. Windproof clothing: Wear windproof jackets and pants that prevent the wind from reaching the skin.
3. Accessories: Don’t forget to wear a hat, gloves and scarf, as these protect parts of the body that lose heat quickly.

Summary

Wind can feel cold because it removes heat from the body faster than calm air and increases evaporation from the skin. The cooling effect of the wind is especially accentuated in cold air. By dressing correctly and protecting yourself from the wind, we can reduce the feeling of cold caused by the wind.

Read more about the cooling effect of the wind and clothing tips On the website of the Meteorological Institute.