Wind chill warning: what it means, and its new name
“Wind Chill Warnings are issued for a combination of very cold air and strong winds that will create dangerously low wind chill values. This level of wind chill will result in frostbite and lead to hypothermia if precautions are not taken. Avoid going outdoors and wear warm protective clothing if you must venture outside.”
weather.gov →Extreme Cold Warnings in effect right now
No Extreme Cold Warnings in effect right now.
National Weather Service data, updated Nov 2, 2026, 9:43 PM ET. Not an official warning: follow your local NWS office. All US alerts →
What to do now
- Close off rooms you do not need, stay together in one, and stuff towels into cracks under doors to keep heat in.
- Wear layers: wool, silk or polypropylene underneath, insulation in the middle, a wind-resistant outer layer. Stay dry.
- Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven. Never run generators, grills or camp stoves indoors.
- Hypothermia signs include shivering, confusion, slurred speech and drowsiness. Seek medical attention; a body temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency.
From our how to stay warm without power in winter, safely guide, which links every source.
Watch, warning or advisory?
Each in the National Weather Service's own words.
Wind Chill Warning
“Wind Chill Warnings are issued for a combination of very cold air and strong winds that will create dangerously low wind chill values. This level of wind chill will result in frostbite and lead to hypothermia if precautions are not taken. Avoid going outdoors and wear warm protective clothing if you must venture outside.”
Wind Chill Watch
“Wind Chill Watches are issued when there is the potential for a combination of extremely cold air and strong winds to create dangerously low wind chill values.”
Wind Chill Advisory
“Wind Chill Advisories are issued when low wind chill temperatures are expected but will not reach local warning criteria. Extremely cold air and strong winds will combine to generate low wind chill readings. If you must venture outdoors, take precautions against frostbite and hypothermia.”
NWS no longer issues Wind Chill Warnings. On October 1, 2024 it renamed them Extreme Cold Warnings (and Wind Chill Watches became Extreme Cold Watches, Wind Chill Advisories became Cold Weather Advisories), to make clear that cold can be dangerous with or without wind. The definitions above are still on weather.gov's winter page; the live box shows the alerts NWS issues today under the new names.
Get ready before the next one
Also: Winter storm preparedness checklist · Winter car emergency kit
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