Burlington, Vermont – As temperatures plunge across Vermont heading into late January and toward early February, the most dangerous part of the cold won’t always be what thermometers show. It’s the wind moving across frozen ground, lake shorelines, and mountain ridges that turns cold air into a serious health threat.
According to the National Weather Service, wind chill describes how quickly the human body loses heat when wind removes the thin layer of warmth that normally surrounds exposed skin. The stronger the wind, the faster that heat is pulled away, causing skin temperature to drop rapidly and making it feel far colder than the actual air temperature.
In Vermont, geography amplifies that effect. Along Lake Champlain, winds sweeping across open water and funneling into Burlington and Colchester can sharply lower wind chill values, especially during the morning and evening commute. In the Green Mountains, higher elevations near Mount Mansfield and Killington experience stronger, more persistent winds, creating prolonged exposure risks for skiers, hikers, and workers outdoors. Farther east, towns in the Northeast Kingdom face extended periods of Arctic air where steady breezes can push wind chills deep below zero overnight.
Wind chill doesn’t freeze objects below the actual air temperature, but it dramatically increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia for people and pets. Exposed skin can begin to freeze in as little as 10 to 15 minutes when wind chills fall into dangerous territory. Children, older adults, and anyone with limited mobility are especially vulnerable, and pets left outside without proper shelter can suffer cold injuries quickly.
Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, wear insulated layers, cover hands, face, and ears, and bring pets inside during the coldest periods. With Arctic air expected to linger into early February, additional cold-related advisories may be issued as wind and temperature continue to combine into hazardous conditions statewide.
