Wind Chill Calculator
Calculate the wind chill temperature — how cold it feels when wind speed accelerates heat loss from exposed skin.
How to use the Wind Chill Calculator
- Enter your inputs into the Wind Chill Calculator above.
- Results update instantly as you type — no submit button needed.
- Adjust any value to see how the result changes in real time.
The NWS wind chill formula
WC = 35.74 + 0.6215·T − 35.75·V^0.16 + 0.4275·T·V^0.16
T is air temperature in °F, V is wind speed in mph. Result is the "feels like" temperature in °F. Only valid for T ≤ 50°F and V ≥ 3 mph.
Worked example
20°F air temperature with 15 mph wind: WC = 35.74 + 12.43 − 51.85 + 5.65 ≈ 1.97°F. So 20°F feels like 2°F. At 25 mph wind: feels like −3°F. The wind chill matters more in extreme cold.
Frequently asked questions
Why does wind make it feel colder?
Skin warms a thin layer of air around it. Wind blows that layer away, exposing skin to fresh cold air constantly. The faster the heat loss, the colder it feels.
Does wind chill affect cars or pipes?
No — wind chill only matters for objects warmer than the air (like skin). Inanimate objects cool to ambient temperature regardless of wind speed.
What wind chill is dangerous?
Frostbite risk on exposed skin: 30 minutes at WC −19°F; 10 minutes at −37°F; 5 minutes at −59°F. NWS issues wind chill warnings below −18°F for the lower 48 states.