Weather service drops 'wind chill,' keeps 'extreme cold' statements
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- The National Weather Service in the Dakotas and Minnesota will not be issuing wind chill warnings this winter, opting instead for the "extreme cold" statements that debuted last winter.
Wind chill is the measure of how cold it feels once the wind is factored in with the air temperature. Meteorologists say one reason for the change is that many times in North Dakota, winter weather can be dangerously cold even with little or no wind.
"Extreme cold" warnings will be issued when it feels like minus-30 degrees or colder across a wide area for several hours. Extreme cold watches will be issued a day or two before the conditions are expected.
The weather service says it's an experiment and the agency is monitoring public feedback.
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(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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