About the Wind Chill Calculator
Wind chill is the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin. A calm day at 20 °F (−7 °C) is cold, but with a 15 mph wind it feels like about 6 °F (−14 °C). This calculator uses the standard formula adopted by the US National Weather Service and Environment Canada. Enter the air temperature and wind speed in °F and mph or in °C and km/h, and it gives the wind chill in both scales, with a short note on the risk of frostbite. The formula only applies in cold air and when there is some wind.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Wind Chill Calculator
- 1Choose °F and mph, or °C and km/h.
- 2Enter the air temperature, 50 °F (10 °C) or colder.
- 3Enter the wind speed, above 3 mph (4.8 km/h).
- 4Read the feels-like temperature and the risk level.
- 5Press Copy result to share it.
Why wind makes cold feel colder
Your body warms a thin layer of air next to the skin. Wind blows that layer away, so your skin must keep re-heating fresh cold air, and you lose heat faster. Wind also cools exposed skin faster than skin covered by clothing, which is why hats, scarves, gloves and face coverings matter so much in a strong wind.
Dressing for cold wind
- Wear layers: a base layer, an insulating layer and a windproof outer layer
- Cover your ears, nose, fingers and toes, the first places to get frostbite
- Keep clothing dry, since wet fabric loses heat fast
- Eat and drink regularly, as the body burns more energy in the cold
- Come inside if skin turns white, numb or waxy
What the numbers mean
A wind chill of −10 °C or higher is generally uncomfortable but low risk. Below −27 °C frostbite becomes a real concern, and the colder it gets, the shorter the time it takes. These guides are for healthy adults; children, older people and those with poor circulation can be affected sooner.
Related tools
For hot weather use the Heat Index Calculator, and for humidity use the Dew Point Calculator. The Temperature Converter switches between Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin, the Unit Converter handles mph and km/h, and the Calorie Calculator helps plan food for cold-weather activity.
Features
- Standard US and Canadian wind chill formula
- °F with mph, or °C with km/h
- Result in both temperature scales
- Frostbite and cold-risk guidance
- Clear messages when the formula does not apply
- Runs in your browser
Frequently asked questions
What is wind chill?
Wind chill is a measure of how cold the air feels on bare skin because of wind. Moving air carries heat away from your body faster, so you lose warmth more quickly than in still air at the same temperature.
How is wind chill calculated?
The current formula, introduced in 2001, is 35.74 + 0.6215T − 35.75V^0.16 + 0.4275TV^0.16 for T in °F and V in mph. The metric version is 13.12 + 0.6215T − 11.37V^0.16 + 0.3965TV^0.16 with °C and km/h. It was developed with human volunteers in a wind tunnel.
Does wind chill change the actual temperature?
No. Wind chill describes how fast exposed skin loses heat. It does not lower the real temperature of objects, so a car engine or water pipe will not freeze below the air temperature because of wind, although it may reach that temperature faster.
When does wind chill become dangerous?
Environment Canada warns that frostbite on exposed skin is possible in about 10 to 30 minutes when the wind chill is between −28 and −39, in 5 to 10 minutes between −40 and −47, and in about 2 minutes at −48 or colder. Cover your skin and limit time outdoors in these conditions.
Why does the calculator refuse some values?
The formula was only tested for air at 50 °F (10 °C) or below and wind above 3 mph (4.8 km/h). Outside that range the numbers do not mean anything, so the tool says why instead of giving a misleading result.
Is wind chill the same as the real-feel temperature on a weather app?
Many apps use their own formulas that combine wind, humidity and sunshine, so their numbers can differ. This calculator gives the official wind chill used by weather services in the United States and Canada.