Arctic air and accumulating snow have finally made their way to West Michigan.

From the comfort of indoors, the winter landscape looks beautiful, especially when you're bundled up with the heat blasting.

However, stepping outside feels like a sudden slap in the face from the cold air.

👇 Read More Below: These 6 New Michigan Laws Will Take Effect in 2025 👇

This morning, in a rush to clear the snow off my car, I forgot to put on my gloves.

That turned out to be a painful mistake; my hands quickly became frozen and started to change color.

Thankfully, I avoided frostbite, but it’s clear that it doesn’t take long for the cold to create significant problems.

Mix 95.7 logo
Get our free mobile app

Don't Be Fooled: Frostbite Can Strike in Minutes

With the cold weather we're having in Michigan it doesn't take long for frostbite to happen.

  • At 5°F with a wind speed of 30 mph: Frostbite can develop in 30 minutes.
  • At -5°F with the same wind speed: Frostbite may occur in as little as 10 minutes.
  • In extreme conditions, such as -30°F with a wind chill of -53°F: Frostbite can set in within 10 minutes or less.
  • In very cold temperatures, frostbite can happen in as little as 5 minutes, especially when wind chills are significantly below zero

What Are The Four Stages of Frost Bite

There are four stages of frostbite, and the scary part is that it doesn't take long to experience all of them.

Stage One: Frostnip

The early stage of frostbite causes a cold feeling, redness, prickling, and numbness. It does not permanently damage the skin and can be treated with first aid.

Stage Two: Superficial Frostbite

In this stage, the skin feels warm, and a fluid-filled blister may appear within 24 hours after rewarming.

Stage Three: Deep Frostbite

As the condition worsens, large blisters may appear 24 to 48 hours after rewarming. The tissue may turn black and hard as it dies, and joints or muscles may no longer function properly.

Stage Four: Tissue Death

The final stage of frostbite affects the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and bone.

Staying indoors for the next few days is not practical for many of us.

Read More: Medical Experts Share The Safest Way To Clear Snow

So, when heading outside in this extreme cold, even if it's just for a few minutes, make sure you take the proper precautions.

These 6 New Michigan Laws Will Take Effect in 2025

From the next minimum wage hike to car seat restraints, here are the new laws set to take effect in the coming new year.

Gallery Credit: Lauren Gordon

Check Out These 17 Michigan Pizza Reviews From Barstool's Dave Portnoy

Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports has visited these Michigan restaurants for his One Bite with Davey Pageviews pizza reviews. "One bite, everybody knows the rules."

Gallery Credit: GoogleMaps

More From Mix 95.7