What is extreme cold?
Extreme cold is defined as temperatures that are below the freezing point of water. These conditions can pose a serious threat to human health and safety, as well as damage infrastructure and disrupt transportation. Extreme cold can cause frostbite, hypothermia, and other potentially life-threatening health problems.
What are the dangers of extreme cold?
Extreme cold can be extremely dangerous for humans. Frostbite is a common problem during periods of extreme cold, and can occur when skin comes into contact with objects that are colder than the surrounding air. Symptoms of frostbite include numbness, pale or grayish skin, and hard or waxy feeling skin. Hypothermia is another danger associated with extreme cold weather. Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing your body temperature to drop below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech. If left untreated, hypothermia can lead to cardiac arrest and death. In addition to posing a threat to human health, extreme cold weather can also damage infrastructure and disrupt transportation systems. Pipes may freeze and burst due to the expansion of water when it freezes; this can cause significant flooding and property damage if not addressed quickly. Roads may become icy and impassable, making travel difficult or even impossible in some cases. Extreme cold can also delay or cancel flights due to ice on runways or poor visibility due to snowstorms.