The thermometer says one thing, but the wind makes it feel way colder. Just enter the air temperature and wind speed, and our free wind chill calculator tells you exactly how cold it feels on your skin. Uses the official NWS formula so you can dress right and stay safe in cold weather.
Modify the values and click the calculate button to use
| Wind (mph) | 40° | 35° | 30° | 25° | 20° | 15° | 10° | 5° | 0° | -5° | -10° | -15° | -20° | -25° | -30° | -35° | -40° | -45° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calm | 40 | 31 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 1 | -5 | -11 | -16 | -22 | -28 | -34 | -40 | -46 | -52 | -57 | -63 |
| 10 | 34 | 27 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 3 | -4 | -10 | -16 | -22 | -28 | -35 | -41 | -47 | -53 | -59 | -66 | -72 |
| 15 | 32 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 0 | -7 | -13 | -19 | -26 | -32 | -39 | -45 | -51 | -58 | -64 | -71 | -77 |
| 20 | 30 | 24 | 17 | 11 | 4 | -2 | -9 | -15 | -22 | -29 | -35 | -42 | -48 | -55 | -61 | -68 | -74 | -81 |
| 25 | 29 | 23 | 16 | 9 | 3 | -4 | -11 | -17 | -24 | -31 | -37 | -44 | -51 | -58 | -64 | -71 | -78 | -84 |
| 30 | 28 | 22 | 15 | 8 | 1 | -5 | -12 | -19 | -26 | -33 | -39 | -46 | -53 | -60 | -67 | -73 | -80 | -87 |
| 35 | 28 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | -7 | -14 | -21 | -27 | -34 | -41 | -48 | -55 | -62 | -69 | -76 | -82 | -89 |
| 40 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 6 | -1 | -8 | -15 | -22 | -29 | -36 | -43 | -50 | -57 | -64 | -71 | -78 | -84 | -91 |
| 45 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 5 | -2 | -9 | -16 | -23 | -30 | -37 | -44 | -51 | -58 | -65 | -72 | -79 | -86 | -93 |
| 50 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 4 | -3 | -10 | -17 | -24 | -31 | -38 | -45 | -52 | -60 | -67 | -74 | -81 | -88 | -95 |
| 55 | 25 | 18 | 11 | 4 | -3 | -11 | -18 | -25 | -32 | -39 | -46 | -54 | -61 | -68 | -75 | -82 | -89 | -97 |
| 60 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 3 | -4 | -11 | -19 | -26 | -33 | -40 | -48 | -55 | -62 | -69 | -76 | -84 | -91 | -98 |
Wind chill is the temperature felt by the body due to wind. Wind disrupts warm air around the skin, increasing heat loss. This calculator uses the U.S. National Weather Service formula.
Using our calculator is super simple. You just need two numbers:
Air temperature
In Fahrenheit or Celsius
Wind speed
In mph or km/h
Plug those in, hit calculate, and you'll get the wind chill temperature. That's the number you should pay attention to when deciding what to wear or how long to stay outside.
Example: 20°F with a 15 mph wind = wind chill around 6°F. That's a huge difference — you'd want to bundle up way more than for a calm 20°F day.
One thing to note: the wind chill formula only works for temperatures at or below 50°F and wind speeds above 3 mph. Below that, the effect is too small to matter.
If you're curious about the math behind the calculator, here's the formula scientists use:
Wind Chill = 35.74 + (0.6215 × T) - (35.75 × V^0.16) + (0.4275 × T × V^0.16)
T = air temperature in °F | V = wind speed in mph
Sounds confusing? It's actually not that bad. The formula was updated in 2001 by scientists who did experiments with real people in wind tunnels. They figured out exactly how fast heat leaves the body at different wind speeds and temperatures.
Before 2001, the old formula was less accurate. It tended to overestimate how cold it felt, especially at lower wind speeds. So if you see old wind chill charts online, they might be using the outdated version.
Construction, landscaping, delivery drivers — wind chill tells you when conditions are dangerous. Many workplaces have rules based on wind chill. Below -20°F, frostbite can happen in under 30 minutes.
When you run or bike, you create your own wind. A runner at 6 mph on a calm day creates wind chill on their own body. Add a real headwind and it gets even colder. Use your speed plus wind speed as the total.
Wondering if it's safe for the kids at the bus stop? Many schools use wind chill to decide about recess. A good rule: if wind chill is below 0°F, keep outdoor time short.
Dogs and cats feel wind chill too. Short-haired breeds, small dogs, and older pets are most at risk. If wind chill is below 20°F, limit outdoor time. Watch for shivering, lifting paws, or whining.
❌ Myth: Wind chill can freeze water faster.
✅ Truth: Nope. Wind chill doesn't affect objects. A bucket of water at 30°F freezes at the same rate whether calm or windy. Wind chill is about heat loss from living things.
❌ Myth: Wind chill only matters below freezing.
✅ Truth: Not true. Wind chill can make 50°F feel like 40°F. That's uncomfortable if you're not dressed for it. Hypothermia can happen above freezing if you're wet and it's windy.
❌ Myth: You can "catch a cold" from wind chill.
✅ Truth: Wind chill doesn't make you sick. Colds come from viruses. But cold stress can weaken your immune system, making it easier for viruses to take hold. The connection is indirect.
Frostbite is the real danger with low wind chill. It happens when your skin and the tissue underneath actually freeze. Your fingers, toes, nose, ears, and cheeks are most at risk.
These times are for exposed skin. Cover up, and you'll be fine much longer. That's why hats, gloves, and scarves are so important in cold weather.
Layer up. Start with a moisture-wicking base layer (not cotton), add an insulating middle layer, and finish with a windproof outer layer.
Cover exposed skin. Every bit of skin is a place where heat can escape. Hats, gloves, scarves, and face masks make a huge difference.
Stay dry. Wet skin loses heat way faster than dry skin. If you're sweating, take a break and cool down.
Take breaks. If you're working or playing outside, go inside every 30-60 minutes to warm up.
Watch for warning signs. Shivering, numbness, tingling, or skin that looks white or waxy are signs of trouble. Get inside immediately.
Wind chill isn't a new idea. People have known for centuries that wind makes cold feel colder. But the first scientific formula came from two Antarctic explorers, Paul Siple and Charles Passel, in 1939. They did experiments with plastic bottles of water and measured how fast they froze in the wind.
Their formula was used for decades, but it had problems. It was based on water freezing, not human skin. So in 2001, a team of scientists updated it using modern technology and real human volunteers in wind tunnels. That's the formula we use today.
Fun fact: the new formula actually gives higher (warmer) wind chill values than the old one. So if you remember wind chill being colder in the past, you're not wrong. The science just got better.
Most people check the temperature and decide what to wear. But wind chill is actually more important for your comfort and safety. A 30°F day with no wind feels pleasant. A 30°F day with a 20 mph wind feels miserable. Same temperature, totally different experience.
Wind chill also affects how fast your phone battery drains. Cold temperatures slow down the chemical reactions inside batteries. Add wind chill, and your phone might die faster than usual. Keep it in an inside pocket close to your body.
And here's something for the car owners: wind chill doesn't affect your engine or your car's fluids. Your car's temperature gauge measures actual air temperature, not wind chill. So don't worry about your car "feeling" colder than it is.
Planning a winter run or bike ride — Know what you're getting into before you head out.
Deciding if kids should play outside — Set a wind chill limit for outdoor play.
Working outdoors — Check wind chill to plan breaks and dress appropriately.
Traveling to cold climates — Know what to expect when you arrive.
Just curious — It's fun to see how much the wind changes things.
Wind chill is one of those things that seems simple but has a lot of depth. It's not just a "feels like" number. It's a real scientific measurement that can help you stay safe, comfortable, and informed in cold weather.
So next time you check the weather, don't just look at the temperature. Look at the wind chill. It tells you the real story of what it feels like to be outside.
And if you ever need to know exactly how cold it feels, our wind chill calculator is here to help. Stay warm out there.
0°F to -25°F
-30°F to -50°F
Below -50°F
Wind chill is what your body actually feels when wind is blowing. Actual temperature is just the air temperature measured by a thermometer. Wind chill is always lower because wind strips away the warm air layer around your skin, making you lose heat faster.
You can use the formula: Wind Chill = 35.74 + (0.6215 × T) - (35.75 × V^0.16) + (0.4275 × T × V^0.16), where T is temperature in Fahrenheit and V is wind speed in mph. But it's way easier to just use our calculator.
No. Wind chill only affects living things because it's about how fast heat leaves the body. Objects don't generate their own heat, so they don't "feel" wind chill. A car at 20°F is 20°F whether it's windy or not.
Wind chill itself doesn't cause illness. Colds and flu are caused by viruses. But cold stress from low wind chill can weaken your immune system, making it easier to get sick if you're exposed to a virus.
Wind chill measures how cold it feels in winter. Heat index measures how hot it feels in summer. Wind chill uses temperature and wind speed. Heat index uses temperature and humidity. They're opposites but work the same way.
When you run or bike, you create your own wind. Add your speed to the actual wind speed. For example, if you're running at 6 mph into a 10 mph headwind, use 16 mph as your wind speed in the calculator.
Frostbite risk starts when wind chill drops below -10°F. At -10°F to -20°F, frostbite can happen in 30 minutes. Below -30°F, it can happen in under 5 minutes. Cover all exposed skin in these conditions.
The old formula from 1939 was based on water freezing, not human skin. Scientists updated it in 2001 using real human volunteers in wind tunnels. The new formula is more accurate and gives slightly warmer wind chill values.
Yes, pets feel wind chill too. Their fur helps, but it's not enough in extreme cold. Short-haired breeds, small dogs, and older pets are most at risk. If wind chill is below 20°F, limit outdoor time and watch for signs of cold stress.
No, this is a common myth. Your lungs are very good at warming and humidifying the air you breathe. Even in extreme cold, the air is warmed to near body temperature by the time it reaches your lungs. Wind chill doesn't change that.
Tell them your body has a warm blanket of air around it. Wind blows that blanket away, so you feel colder. The stronger the wind, the more blanket gets blown away. That's why you need extra layers on windy days.
The lowest wind chill ever recorded was approximately -108°F at Mount Washington, New Hampshire in January 2023, with an air temperature of -46°F and wind gusts over 100 mph. In those conditions, exposed skin freezes almost instantly.