Manchester, New Hampshire – As Arctic air deepens across New Hampshire heading into late January and toward early February, the cold most residents feel won’t come from temperature alone. Wind moving through valleys, across ridgelines, and along the coast will sharply accelerate heat loss, creating dangerous wind chill conditions statewide.
According to the National Weather Service, wind chill represents how fast exposed skin loses heat when wind strips away the thin insulating layer of warmth produced by the body. The stronger the wind, the faster that heat is removed, making conditions feel significantly colder and increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia even when air temperatures appear manageable.
New Hampshire’s terrain intensifies this effect. In the White Mountains, persistent winds near Mount Washington and Franconia Notch are notorious for extreme wind chill values, where exposed skin can freeze in minutes during Arctic outbreaks. Across central New Hampshire, including Concord and Manchester, open river valleys allow cold air and wind to move freely, pushing wind chills well below zero during overnight and early morning hours. Along the Seacoast, winds off the Atlantic funnel into Portsmouth and Hampton, magnifying cold for anyone working outdoors or traveling along coastal roadways.
Wind chill does not lower the actual temperature of objects like vehicles or pipes below the air temperature, but it rapidly impacts people and animals. Fingers, toes, ears, and noses are especially vulnerable, and children, older adults, and those with health conditions lose body heat faster. Pets left outdoors, even briefly, face serious cold exposure risks.
Residents are urged to dress in multiple insulating layers, fully cover exposed skin, limit time outdoors, and check on neighbors during the coldest periods. With Arctic air expected to linger into early February, additional cold-related advisories and warnings may be issued as wind and temperature continue to combine into hazardous conditions across New Hampshire.
