But it may have also made us complacent by exaggerating the chilling effect of the wind at very cold temperatures lulling us, by experience, into the notion that temperatures well below −35☌ (−31☏) are safe, when in fact, they can be dangerous. Unquestionably the current wind chill scale has served us well in highlighting the need for extra clothing and protection in cold, windy conditions.
There was a session partly devoted to this topic at the 22d Annual Workshop on Hazards Research and Applications (13–16 July 1997) sponsored by the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center, Boulder, Colorado. Many scientists have noted deficiencies in the current wind chill scale (e.g., Court 1992 Dixon and Prior 1987 Driscoll 1985, 1992, 1994 Kessler 1993, 1994, 1995 Horstmeyer 1994 Osczevski 1995 Schwerdt 1995 Steadman 1995).
