The University at Albany’s Atmospheric Research Center measures conditions at the top of Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington and recorded an air temperature of negative 31 degrees shortly before 7:30 a.m. Monday morning.

With sustained winds of 60 mph, the National Weather Service’s wind chill calculator says the temperature felt like negative 77.9 degrees Fahrenheit, or 61.1 degrees below zero Centigrade.

The wind speed also gusted to 64 miles per hour, which equates to a wind chill of 78.9 below zero.

“Wind Chill is the term used to describe the rate of heat loss on the human body resulting from the combined effect of low temperature and wind,” the NWS says. “As winds increase, heat is carried away from the body at a faster rate, driving down both the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill; however, cars, plants and other objects are not.”

According to the NWS, frostbite can set in in just five minutes at the temperature recorded on top of Whiteface.

“Frostbite is damage to body tissue caused by extreme cold. A wind chill of -20 degrees Fahrenheit (F) will cause frostbite in just 30 minutes,” the NWS says. “Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately!”

Just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning, it was nine degrees below zero with a 33 mph wind, which equates to 39.1 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

The winter storm dumped 18 inches of fresh snow on Whiteface Mountain Ski Center. As of Tuesday, Jan. 22, the ski resort had eight lifts and 74 trails open, or 84 percent of the terrain.