Winter Chills

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful” Is that line familiar? It comes from a popular winter song. The song refers to snow. But it could be about another weather event: windchill.

Windchill is a weather term you might hear this season. TIME for Kids spoke with a meteorologist to learn more.

Freezing temperatures happen in winter. Wind makes them feel colder.

What Is Windchill?

Windchill is more than just frightfully cold weather. “Windchill is how cold it feels outside when the wind is blowing,” Maureen McCann says. She’s a meteorologist. She works for Spectrum News 13, in Orlando, Florida.

“The thermometer may say one thing. But when you add in the wind, that makes it feel so much colder,” she says. “Wind takes your body heat away faster.”

Wind takes body heat away faster. When it’s very cold outside, it’s safer to stay in.

Think of a bowl of hot soup. You blow on it before you take a spoonful. That cools it. Windchill does something similar to your body.

Keeping the Chill Out

It’s important to pay attention to the windchill in the forecast. Being outside in too-cold weather is unsafe. Sometimes, it’s best to stay inside. “Enjoy all those indoor winter activities,” McCann says. “Playing games, making cookies, watching movies.”

If you can’t stay in, McCann has some advice. “The best way to stay safe is to stay warm and wear layers,” she says. Make sure to bundle up as much as you can. Cover your ears and wear gloves. This helps avoid frostbite.

You can lose heat quickly from your hands and feet. Be sure to wear gloves and boots.

Windchill might make the weather outside feel frightful. But McCann doesn’t think you should be afraid of it. “We have a motto at my station,” she says. “‘Work to be prepared, not scared.’”