Wind Chill Calculator
Find the "feels like" temperature from air temperature and wind speed using the official North American wind chill formula.
How it works
WC = 13.12 + 0.6215·T − 11.37·V^0.16 + 0.3965·T·V^0.16 · T in °C, V in km/h
Wind chill is how cold the air feels once moving air strips away the thin insulating layer of warmth your skin builds up. The standard North American formula, adopted in 2001, applies at temperatures at or below 10 °C and wind speeds above about 5 km/h; below that wind speed the air is effectively calm and the feels-like temperature equals the actual temperature. Wind chill affects exposed skin and frostbite risk but never cools an object below the true air temperature.
Worked example
At −5 °C with a 20 km/h wind, V^0.16 = 20^0.16 ≈ 1.615. WC = 13.12 + 0.6215(−5) − 11.37(1.615) + 0.3965(−5)(1.615) ≈ 13.12 − 3.11 − 18.36 − 3.20 = −11.5 °C — about 6.5 °C colder than the thermometer reads.
Sources: Wind chill — Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions
Can wind chill freeze water faster than the actual temperature?
No. Wind chill only describes how quickly a warm object such as skin loses heat; it cannot push anything below the true air temperature. Water at −5 °C air temperature will freeze whether the wind blows or not, just faster in wind, but never below −5 °C.
Why is there no wind chill above 10 °C?
The formula was calibrated for cold conditions where heat loss dominates comfort. Above 10 °C, moving air can feel refreshing rather than dangerous, and heat index (which accounts for humidity) becomes the relevant comfort measure instead.
When does wind chill cause frostbite?
Frostbite risk on exposed skin rises sharply once wind chill falls below about −27 °C, where it can occur within 10–30 minutes, and below −40 °C in under 10 minutes. Covering exposed skin is the main defence.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.