Just
how cold does it have to be before New Richmond schools close or go on a
delayed start?
That
temperature with wind chill factored in has been established at -18 degrees.
"We
are using the Wind Chill Chart from the National Weather Service to determine
whether to close/delay" said Supt. Adam Bird. "NREVSD will stay open
unless wind chill factor reaches -18 degrees or colder."
 |
| National Weather Service wind chill/frostbite chart. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/ |
The
wind chill factor is the perceived air temperature felt on exposed
skin due to the flow of cold air not the actual temperature. A wind chill of
-19 or lower could result in frostbite after 30 minutes of exposure according
to the National Weather Service.
The
wait time for New Richmond school buses should be five minutes or less -- well
under the 30-minute frostbite range -- according to NREVSD transportation
director Wayne Prescott.
“Students
are supposed to be at their designated place of safety (or bus stop) five minutes
before their bus time,” said Prescott, who, along with chief mechanic Chuck
Vogel, has the buses started and warmed up when drivers leave the transportation
facility.
But
no student is on the clock when it comes to inclement weather.
“Our drivers are professionals and they know
what to look for when picking up their students,” said Prescott.
That
certainly was the case on Wednesday.
"Student
safety will always be our top priority," said Bird, who rode a school bus
on one route and drove a large portion of the district in his private car. “No
student had to wait for the bus I was on, the bus waited for them. And the bus
waited for students at a designated bus stop.”
New
Richmond was one of three Clermont County and one of four local
districts to remain on regular start times Wednesday (Jan. 29). Goshen, Milford and Forest Hills were the
other districts to not go on delay.
Here’s
the wind chill to frostbite times according to the National Weather Service:
·
Wind chill -19 to -30: Skin can frostbite
in 30 minutes.
·
Wind chill -35 to -50: Skin can frostbite
in 10 minutes.
·
Wind chill -50 and lower: Skin can frostbite
in five minutes.
The National Weather Service issues
a wind chill advisory when the forecast wind chill exceeds -15 and a wind chill
warning when it exceeds -25. Schools in cold weather states like South Dakota
go as low as the 10 minute frostbite time before closing/delay.
