‘Frostbite is absolutely a concern.’ Nashville forecasted for -17 wind chill

Temperatures will rapidly plummet to single digits in Nashville this weekend as an Arctic air mass travels across the state. 

Snow or frozen precipitation is becoming more likely for Thursday, starting as early as 8 p.m., and roadways could remain slick on Friday morning. 

But the definite risk is the wind chill. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service forecasted a “dangerous and life-threatening” wind chill of -17 degrees in Nashville for Friday morning and -8 degrees on Saturday morning. 

“Frostbite is absolutely a concern if you’re exposed for 30 minutes or greater,” said Paige Baggett, a meteorologist at NWS Nashville.

Frostbite happens when the skin and underlying tissue freeze, and it can cause permanent damage. To determine frostbite risks, it’s helpful to understand the physics of heat, which is the energy transferred as a result of a temperature difference. 

Why wind can cause frostbite

Humans are constantly creating heat and a thin layer of warm air around the body. Wind can blow that air away, exposing the body to the cold. In windy conditions, the process repeats. At certain speed and temperature combinations, human bodies can’t produce heat fast enough to counter the cold air. Without that warm, insulating air around the body, the outer layer of skin can drop and match the outside temperature – causing frostbite. 

Courtesy National Weather Service

Frostbite is the freezing of skin and underlying tissue. It is most common on the fingers, toes, nose, ears and face.

The impending cold will also pose a risk of hypothermia, which is a life-threatening condition that happens when a human body drops below 95 degrees. Older people or folks with conditions like hypoglycemia, malnutrition or drug use disorder can be at a greater risk because they produce heat less effectively in response to cold stress. 

In the U.S., an average of 1,300 hypothermia-related deaths occured between 1999 and 2011, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

“Nobody should be outside this weekend,” Paggett said. “If you have to be, bundle up.” 

It is essential to stay dry, as water draws heat from bodies. Folks should also keep skin covered and dress in layers to help trap warm air around the body. 

The Nashville Rescue Mission and Room in the Inn are offering overnight cold shelters. The city is also offering an overnight shelter at 3230 Brich Church Pike to people and pets in the event that other shelters are full. 

To protect homes, NWS recommends:

• Cover exposed pipes.
• Drip faucets.
• Bring plants and pets indoors.
• If traveling, pack extra blankets in the car in case of an emergency.