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Wind Chill Calculator

Calculate how cold it feels with wind.

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Wind Chill Calculator
Calculate how cold it feels with wind.

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Understanding 'Feels Like' Temperature

The wind chill factor describes how cold the air feels on human skin due to the wind. It's a measure of the increased heat loss from the body caused by wind. Our calculator uses the official National Weather Service (NWS) formula to provide the 'feels like' temperature, an important metric for dressing appropriately and staying safe in cold, windy weather.

The Wind Chill Formula Explained

The NWS formula is complex and was developed based on human trials and advanced heat transfer theory. Wind Chill (°F) = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75(V^0.16) + 0.4275T(V^0.16) Where:

  • T is the air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
  • V is the wind speed in miles per hour (mph).

How to Use the Calculator

  1. Temperature (°F): Enter the ambient air temperature in Fahrenheit.
  2. Wind Speed (mph): Enter the sustained wind speed in miles per hour.
  3. Calculate: The tool will display the calculated wind chill temperature.

Real-World Example

The outside temperature is 20°F and the wind is blowing at 15 mph.

  • Plugging these values into the formula gives a wind chill of approximately 6°F.
  • This means that the exposure to this wind and temperature feels the same on your skin as being in calm air at 6°F.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Does wind chill affect objects like cars or pipes? No. Wind chill only affects objects that can lose heat, like humans and animals. It cannot cool an inanimate object below the actual air temperature. However, it will cause objects to cool down to the air temperature faster.
  • At what temperatures is wind chill calculated? The NWS formula is defined for temperatures at or below 50°F and wind speeds above 3 mph.
  • Why is wind chill important? It's a critical safety metric. High wind chill values dramatically increase the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. For example, at a wind chill of -20°F, frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.