Wind Chill Calculator

Find the "feels like" temperature from cold and wind speed.

°C
km/h
Feels like
Frostbite risk
In other unit
Actual temperature
Wind

Applies to exposed skin in cold, windy conditions. Cover up, limit exposure, and watch for numbness or pale, hard skin — signs to get warm and seek help.

Why wind makes cold worse

Your body warms a thin layer of air against your skin. Wind keeps sweeping that warmth away, so heat is lost faster and the cold feels far sharper than a still day at the same temperature.

The wind-chill formula combines temperature and wind speed into a single "feels like" figure. It is meant for cold, breezy conditions — roughly 10°C (50°F) and below with a noticeable wind.

The frostbite guide shows how quickly exposed skin is at risk as the wind chill falls. It assumes bare skin, so covering up changes the picture considerably.

Worked example

At −5°C with a 20 km/h wind, the air feels closer to −11.6°C. Moving air strips away the thin warm layer near your skin, so the cold bites harder than the thermometer suggests.

Staying safe in the cold

As wind chill drops, exposed skin is the first casualty — fingers, ears, nose and cheeks. Layers, windproof outerwear, hats and gloves slow heat loss dramatically. Limit time outside in extreme readings, and head indoors at the first sign of numbness.

Sensible precautions

  • Cover exposed skin. The formula assumes bare skin; clothing helps a lot.
  • Block the wind. A windproof outer layer matters more than bulk.
  • Watch for warning signs. Numbness or pale, waxy skin means warm up now.

This is general information, not medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is wind chill?
An estimate of how cold it feels on exposed skin when wind is factored in. Wind carries away the body’s warmth faster, so a breezy cold day feels colder than a still one at the same temperature.
When does the formula apply?
It is designed for cold, breezy conditions — roughly at or below 10°C (50°F) with wind above about 5 km/h (3 mph). Outside that range the "feels like" value is close to the actual temperature.
Does it affect objects too?
No. Wind chill describes how fast exposed skin loses heat, so it applies to people and animals. A parked car or a pipe only cools to the actual air temperature, not the wind-chill value.
When is frostbite a risk?
Risk rises sharply as wind chill drops below about −27°C. In the −28 to −40 range frostbite can occur within 10–30 minutes on exposed skin, and faster still as it gets colder.