Brrrrrrrreezy

Sunday was a windy day here. After an absolutely unreal 68°F Saturday, Sunday began in the low 30's and the wind which brought the drop in temperature had been unrelenting. The bare tree branches on the hundred-plus foot oaks in the neighborhood were thrashing in the gusts.
So I followed my browser to the National Weather Service for information about wind chill. This is the calculation that combines ambient temperature and wind speed to give a relatively accurate idea of what the air feels like.
Wind chill is the most sought-after number in the Midwest (and probably elsewhere) every winter. We know not to rely on temperature alone. That is too misleading. But, did you know that since 2001, the wind chill has been calculated differently? According to the NWS: "The current formula uses advances in science, technology, and computer modeling to provide a more accurate, understandable, and useful formula for calculating the dangers from winter winds and freezing temperatures." One of the changes implemented was the measurement of the wind speed at a height of five feet, based on average human height. I like that the new way looks at exactly how much wind is hitting my face. Now if they could only do something about the actual wind... .