Wind Chill Calculator

Find how cold it feels outside when wind is added to the air temperature. The wind chill calculator uses the formula of the US and Canadian weather services.

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Units

Wind chill
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How to use the Wind Chill Calculator

  1. Choose °C or °F.
  2. Enter the Air temperature and the Wind speed, and pick the wind unit.
  3. Press Calculate. The wind chill appears in your unit, with both units and a note on frostbite risk.

How it works

wind chill = 13.12 + 0.6215 T − 11.37 V^0.16 + 0.3965 T V^0.16
  • T: air temperature in °C
  • V: wind speed in km/h at 10 m height

The formula applies at 10 °C (50 °F) or colder with wind above 4.8 km/h (3 mph). Outside that range the air temperature is shown instead.

Examples

  • 5 °C with a 30 km/h wind feels like 0.1 °C.
  • −10 °C with a 40 km/h wind feels like −20.8 °C.
  • 0 °F with a 20 mph wind feels like −22.1 °F.

Wind chill and frostbite

Wind strips away the thin layer of warm air around the skin, so exposed skin loses heat faster. At a wind chill of −28 °C (−18 °F) exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes, and below −40 °C in 10 minutes or less. Cover your face and hands in those conditions.

Limitations

  • Assumes shade and an adult face walking into the wind. Sunshine makes it feel warmer.
  • Not valid above 10 °C or in near-calm air.

Frequently asked questions

What is wind chill?

The temperature that bare skin feels when the wind is taken into account.

Does wind chill affect water pipes or cars?

No. Objects cool faster in wind but never below the actual air temperature.

What formula is used?

The 2001 wind chill index shared by the US National Weather Service and Environment Canada.

Often used together with the Wind Chill Calculator.