In the next few days it will freeze a lot, down to around 8 degrees below zero. But whoever goes outside will feel much colder. The so-called perceived temperature in the cold season is always much lower than the actual temperature. What exactly is perceived temperature and how is it actually measured? Meteorologist Wouter van Bernebeek explains it.
Tuesday will be 8-10 degrees below zero, while it will only freeze a few degrees. This is mainly due to the wind,” says the meteorologist. It is therefore called “windchill”. According to Van Bernebeek it is a strong north-east wind. It brings us cold air coming this way from Finland. At night the perceived temperature can even drop to 11-15 degrees below zero.
Cold sometimes
So the wind is cold. The stronger the wind blows, the colder it gets. “It is therefore not cold constantly, but at times. Especially when the wind blows strong, the perceived temperature drops.” In winter, says the meteorologist, because in summer things work differently. Then humidity also plays an important role on the perceived temperature.
But how is that perceived temperature calculated? “Yes, it’s difficult, but there is a formula. With a degree of frost and a wind speed of, for example, forty kilometers per hour, 10 degrees below zero can quickly be reached.”
Wind is harmful to natural ice
The wind that creates that cold sensation has a detrimental effect on good natural ice. This makes it more difficult for open water to freeze. “The wind keeps the water moving. I don’t think ice will form offshore for a while.” But meteorologist Van Bernebeek sees opportunities in sheltered places.
“For a few nights the temperature will drop to 7-8 degrees. In theory that means the growth of 2 centimeters of ice per night. And this could mean that on Thursday we could skate for a while.”
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2024-01-08 21:07:55
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