Most of the time, cold is judged in terms of a thermometer reading. However, both temperature and wind speed together produce a "wind chill factor" that can harm people and animals.

The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined effects of the wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at a faster rate, driving down the body temperature. The wind chill shows how cold the wind makes exposed flesh feel. It is a good way to gauge the potential of frostbite or hypothermia.

Remember, wind chill temperatures apply only to people and other living things. If the temperature is 35 degrees F and the wind chill is 10 degrees F, objects such as pipes or cars will only cool to 35 degrees F. The wind factor does not apply to non-living objects.