Wind Chill Calculator
Calculate how much colder the air feels on your skin when the wind is blowing. This tool also estimates the risk level for frostbite.
What is Wind Chill?
Wind chill is the term used to describe the rate of heat loss on the human body resulting from the combined effect of low temperature and wind. As wind speed increases, heat is carried away from the body at a faster rate, driving down both the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature.
How is Wind Chill calculated?
The modern Wind Chill Index was implemented in 2001 by the National Weather Service. It uses a formula based on wind speed at the average height of the human face (5 feet) and clinical data on how fast the human body loses heat in cold and windy conditions.
What is the "Time to Frostbite"?
Time to frostbite is an estimate of how long it takes for exposed skin to freeze at a specific wind chill temperature. For example, at a wind chill of -15°F (-26°C), frostbite can occur in 30 minutes. At -60°F (-51°C), it can happen in as little as 5 minutes.
When is Wind Chill not applicable?
Wind chill is only calculated for temperatures at or below 50°F (10°C) and wind speeds above 3 mph (4.8 km/h). At higher temperatures or calm winds, the "feels like" effect of wind on cold is negligible.