NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP -- Bitter cold is nothing new to Upper Michigan.
We got a taste of it a few days ago, but a cold front passing through looks to give us a bigger helping.
"We're going to actually have another shortwave that's coming through, another low pressure system. We'll be tapping into an even colder system with those northerly winds, bringing our winds up higher and our temperatures down lower," said National Weather Service Meteorologist, Jane Marie Wix.
That combination of wind and cold is what we're worried about.
The real hazardous part of what's on the way is the wind chill. To determine it, you need to know the temperature and the wind speed, and it tells you how your body is reacting to the weather. For example, at a temperature of minus ten and a wind speed of twenty miles per hour, your body would react to the air as if it was thirty-five degrees below zero. At these temperatures, it is very, very dangerous for the human body.
"Frostbite is where your body fluid freezes in your skin. You form blisters--that's the earliest damage--but if you freeze right down to the bone, they can lose that extremity," said Dr. Karen Eldevick.
Avoiding exposure to such temperatures by staying inside is the best way to beat the cold. If you have to venture outside, you should keep a few tips in mind.
"Wear your hat and your mittens, put a scarf over the nose and cheeks. If you're wet and sweaty, the quicker you'll become hypothermic. Wear layers that you can strip off, wear clothing that wicks the moisture away from you," Dr. Eldevik added.
So as you head outside, plan ahead and take the proper steps to stay warm.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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