DAVENPORT, Iowa — We've seen our fair share of cold so far this winter season, including several days with either a wind chill advisory or a wind chill warning in effect. Daniel from Moline, Illinois, asked, "Who determines a wind chill advisory versus a wind chill warning?" That's a great question! Let's dive in.
The U.S. National Weather Service has a total of 122 local weather forecast offices throughout the country. The agency is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather and other weather-related products to organizations and the public.
Our local office is located at the Davenport Municipal Airport in Davenport, Iowa. That is where a team of meteorologists tracks weather patterns and provides forecasts, warnings and other products for public consumption.
Currently, the NWS is the only organization that issues weather-related warnings. The NWS defines a warning as a "hazardous weather or hydrologic event that is occurring, is imminent or has a high probability of occurring".
Some private-sector corporations that also issue weather-related products, including forecasts, have also been known to issue their own type of alerts tailored to specific industries. At this time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the NWS are the official sources for weather-related alerts.
That leads us to the next question. What's the difference between a wind chill advisory and a wind chill warning? It has to do with two factors. 1. The value of the actual wind chill itself. 2. The amount of time it takes for life-threatening conditions to set in.
A Wind Chill Advisory means wind chills as low as -20° to -25° are likely. In these conditions, frostbite can occur to exposed skin in about 30 minutes.
A Wind Chill Warning means wind chills are -30° or colder. This creates life-threatening conditions with frostbite impacting exposed skin in less than 30 minutes.
DID YOU KNOW?
Wind Chill Advisory/Warning criteria vary depending on which part of the country you live in! Areas to the north of the Quad Cities have a much lower temperature threshold when it comes to issuing an advisory and warning.
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