Wind Chill & Feels-Like Calculator
Calculate how cold it actually feels based on air temperature and wind speed. Uses the North American/Met Office wind chill formula adopted internationally in 2001.
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Wind Chill Guide
Why Wind Makes You Colder?
Wind chill occurs because moving air accelerates heat loss from exposed skin by removing the thin layer of warm air that the body naturally creates around itself. In still air, your skin warms the surrounding air creating an insulating layer. Wind strips this away, forcing your body to work harder to maintain core temperature. The wind chill formula was revised by the US National Weather Service and Meteorological Service of Canada in 2001 to better reflect human heat loss — the current version
What's the difference between Wind Chill and Heat Index?
Wind chill is the cold equivalent of the Heat Index (feels-like temperature in hot weather). Wind chill only applies at temperatures at or below 10°C and wind speeds above 5 km/h — at warmer temperatures, the formula doesn't apply. The Heat Index applies at temperatures above 27°C with high humidity. Both are measures of human heat stress — wind chill relates to cooling, heat index to overheating risk.
What's the key thing to understand about Frostbite Risk?
Frostbite risk increases dramatically as wind chill drops. At a feels-like temperature of -15°C: frostbite can occur in 30 minutes on exposed skin. At -27°C: frostbite in 10 minutes. At -35°C: frostbite in 5-10 minutes. At -60°C: frostbite in under 2 minutes. Fingers, toes, ears, nose, and cheeks are most vulnerable. Wet skin cools approximately 25 times faster than dry skin — wet conditions in wind dramatically increase frostbite risk even at mild temperatures.
What do I need to know about Dressing for Wind Chill?
The most effective clothing system for cold and wind is layering: base layer (moisture-wicking, not cotton), mid layer (insulating fleece or down), outer layer (wind and waterproof shell). The outer shell is critical — even a thin windproof layer dramatically reduces effective wind chill. Exposed skin (face, hands) accounts for a disproportionate amount of heat loss — gloves, hats, and face covering are the most impactful items in cold wind. Cotton base layers accelerate heat loss when wet — avoid cotton next to the skin in cold, wet, or high-exertion conditions, since synthetic or wool base layers wick moisture away and retain warmth even when damp.