Find out how cold it really feels outside. Just enter the air temperature and wind speed—and we’ll do the chilly math for you.
Wind Chill Calculator
If you’re curious about how the calculator works, it uses the official formula used by the National Weather Service (NWS) and Environment Canada, implemented in 2001:
Wind Chill = 35.74 + 0.6215T – 35.75(V^0.16) + 0.4275T(V^0.16)
T = Temperature in °F, V = Wind speed in mph
This formula was tested in chilly Canadian wind tunnels—and no, we’re not kidding—on human volunteers. (Hopefully well-bundled ones.) It’s only accurate for:
- Temperatures at or below 50°F, and
- Wind speeds above 3 mph
Above those levels, the wind chill effect is negligible—or at least not enough to make your mustache freeze.
Related: Heat Index Calculator: See How Hot It Really Feels
What Is Wind Chill, Anyway?
Brrr! The thermometer might say 32°F, but if the wind’s howlin’, it can feel more like the Arctic tundra. Wind chill is how cold it feels when you step outside and the wind slaps you in the face like a frozen trout.
Real temperature is what a thermometer measures. Wind chill is what your skin feels when that temperature is combined with wind. It’s all about heat loss from your body, not a change in the air.
The wind steals heat from your skin, making the air feel colder than what the thermometer reads.
Let’s say it’s 32°F outside and the wind is blowing at 10 mph. Our calculator gives you a wind chill of around 23°F. So, while the thermometer says freezing, your face says “I can’t feel my nose.”
Why does this happen? Well, your body is a clever little furnace. It warms a thin layer of air right next to your skin—like wearing an invisible thermal jacket. This is called the boundary layer, and it helps you stay at a comfy 98.6°F. When the wind picks up, that invisible “jacket” gets ripped right off. The stronger the wind, the faster that warm air layer disappears—making you feel much colder than the actual air temperature. That’s wind chill in action.
Wind chill isn’t just for small talk at the bus stop. It plays a real role in your health. For instance: A wind chill of 0°F can cause frostbite in 30 minutes or less. It increases your risk of hypothermia, especially in children, the elderly, and the outdoorsy types who "didn’t need a hat."
Wind chill also affects pets, livestock, and anything that can lose heat—like your garden hose if you forgot to bring it in.
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