Everyday Life

Wind Chill Calculator

What the air feels like on exposed skin.

Your numbers

°F

Your results

Wind chill (°F)
Wind chill (°F)
—
Wind chill (°C)
—
Feels colder by (°F)
—

Wind Chill Calculator by TheCalcTools

How the Wind Chill Calculator works

Enter the air temperature and sustained wind speed.

The NWS formula estimates the rate of heat loss from exposed skin.

Results apply only at or below 50°F with winds of at least 3 mph.

The formula

WC = 35.74 + 0.6215 T − 35.75 V^0.16 + 0.4275 T V^0.16T in °F, V in mph

Worked example

Using the default values shown in the calculator:

Air temperature (°F)20 °F
Wind speed (mph)15 mph
  1. At 20°F with a 15 mph wind, WC = 6.2°F (-14.3°C).
  2. It feels 13.8°F colder than the air temperature.

Result:

Wind chill (°F)6.2
Wind chill (°C)-14.3
Feels colder by (°F)13.8

Frequently asked questions

Does wind chill change the real temperature?

No. Objects do not cool below the air temperature. Wind chill describes how fast exposed skin loses heat.

When is frostbite a risk?

At wind chills below about −18°F (−28°C) exposed skin can freeze within roughly 30 minutes. Cover skin in cold winds.

Sources and further reading

More in Everyday Life · All calculators

This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.