What is Wind Chill?
Wind chill is not the actual air temperature but rather a measure of how cold it feels on exposed skin due to the combined effects of cold and wind. As wind speed increases, it draws heat away from the body at a faster rate, causing the skin temperature to drop. This is why a calm, 30°F day feels much warmer than a windy 30°F day.
The Wind Chill Formula
The formula used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States and other countries is:
Wind Chill (°F) = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75(V0.16) + 0.4275T(V0.16)
Where:
- T is the air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
- V is the wind speed in miles per hour (mph).
This calculator handles the necessary unit conversions if you input temperature in Celsius or wind speed in km/h or m/s.
Frostbite Warning: Wind chill is a critical factor for frostbite, which is an injury caused by the freezing of skin and underlying tissues. The lower the wind chill, the faster frostbite can occur. Our calculator will display a warning when conditions are dangerous.