Winter

It's winter, without a doubt. How do I know? Because right now it's -1F or -18C and with the wind index/wind chill factor it feels like -14F or -26C.

It's actually so cold water left outdoors is sure to freeze in a very small amount of time. And if you don't cover your skin, you're sure to get a very painful surprise... this means even walking from the car to the house or from the car to the office.

According to the Center for Disease Control, wind chill factor is described as:

"The Wind Chill index is the temperature your body feels when the air temperature is combined with the wind speed. It is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold. As the speed of the wind increases, it can carry heat away from your body much more quickly, causing skin temperature to drop. When there are high winds, serious weather-related health problems are more likely, even when temperatures are only cool.
The wind chill shows the difference between actual air temperature and perceived temperature, and amount of time until frostbite occurs.

Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin—frostbite may be beginning. Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite:
a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, and numbness."

Stay safe and warm, or even better, stay home with a hot beverage and good tv!
- J