Wind Chill Calculator
Calculate how cold the air may feel when wind speed is combined with cold air temperature. Get instant wind chill results in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.
Calculate Wind Chill
The standard wind chill formula is intended for cold conditions, generally at air temperatures of 50°F (10°C) or lower and wind speeds above 3 mph (4.8 km/h).
Enter the air temperature and wind speed to calculate the wind chill.
What Is a Wind Chill Calculator?
A Wind Chill Calculator estimates how cold outdoor conditions may feel on exposed skin when air temperature and wind speed are considered together.
Moving air increases heat transfer away from exposed skin. As wind speed increases during cold weather, the apparent temperature can therefore be lower than the measured air temperature.
How to Use the Wind Chill Calculator
The calculator only requires air temperature and wind speed. You can use either metric or US customary units.
Enter Air Temperature
Enter the outdoor air temperature and select Fahrenheit or Celsius.
Enter Wind Speed
Enter the wind speed and choose either miles per hour or kilometers per hour.
Calculate Wind Chill
Click the calculation button to see the estimated apparent temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.
Wind Chill Formula
For US customary units, the commonly used wind chill equation uses air temperature in Fahrenheit and wind speed in miles per hour.
WCT = 35.74 + 0.6215T − 35.75V0.16 + 0.4275TV0.16
In this formula, T is air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, V is wind speed in miles per hour, and WCT is the calculated wind chill temperature.
A metric version can also be expressed using Celsius and kilometers per hour:
WCT = 13.12 + 0.6215T − 11.37V0.16 + 0.3965TV0.16
Wind Chill Calculation Example
Suppose the air temperature is 20°F and the wind speed is 15 mph. Using the standard wind chill equation produces an apparent temperature of approximately 6°F.
The measured air temperature has not actually changed. Instead, the wind chill value represents the increased cooling effect of moving air on exposed skin.
Air Temperature vs. Wind Chill
| Measurement | Meaning | Main Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Air Temperature | Actual measured temperature of the surrounding air | Atmospheric conditions |
| Wind Chill | Estimated apparent cold on exposed skin | Temperature + wind speed |
| Wind Speed | Rate at which air moves past a location | Weather and local exposure |
What Affects Wind Chill?
Air Temperature
Lower air temperatures generally produce lower wind chill values when wind is present.
Wind Speed
Faster moving air can increase heat loss from exposed skin, lowering the calculated apparent temperature.
Skin Exposure
Wind chill is particularly relevant to exposed skin. Clothing and shelter reduce direct exposure to moving cold air.
Local Exposure
Buildings, trees, terrain, and other obstacles can change the wind experienced at a specific location.
When Does the Wind Chill Formula Apply?
The commonly used wind chill formula is designed for specific cold-weather conditions. It is generally applied when the air temperature is 50°F (10°C) or lower and the wind speed is greater than 3 mph (4.8 km/h).
Outside those conditions, reporting a standard wind chill value may not be appropriate. For this reason, the calculator displays a notice when the input falls outside the normal formula range.
Wind Chill Calculator FAQs
Wind chill is an apparent-temperature index describing the combined cooling effect of air temperature and wind on exposed skin.
Wind chill is calculated using an empirical equation that combines air temperature with wind speed. The calculator automatically handles the calculation and unit conversions.
No. Wind chill does not change the measured air temperature. It estimates the effect that cold air and wind have on heat loss from exposed skin.
Yes. You can enter temperature in Celsius and wind speed in either km/h or mph. The calculator displays the result in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
The standard formula is generally used for wind speeds above approximately 3 mph, or 4.8 km/h.
Moving air removes the warmer layer of air near exposed skin and increases convective heat transfer, which can increase the rate of heat loss.
Wind can increase the rate at which an object approaches the surrounding air temperature, but wind chill alone does not make an ordinary object cool below the actual ambient air temperature.