Enter the value that you want to calculate wind chill.
The Wind Chill Calculator is an invaluable tool for understanding how the wind affects perceived outdoor temperatures, especially in cold climates. By entering the temperature and wind speed, users can calculate the wind chill factor using two popular methods: the Steadman method, prevalent in Europe for temperatures below 10°C, and the Wind Chill Index (WCI) used in other regions. This calculator is essential for outdoor enthusiasts, meteorologists, and anyone who needs to prepare for cold weather conditions.
Wind chill is a measure of how cold it feels outside when the wind is factored in with the actual air temperature. The calculation considers both the speed of the wind and the temperature of the air, providing a perceived temperature or "feels-like" condition.
The widely accepted formula for calculating wind chill in the United States and Canada is:
$$\text{Wind Chill (°F)} = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75(V^{0.16}) + 0.4275T(V^{0.16})$$
where \(T\) is the air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, and \(V\) is the wind speed in miles per hour.
| Temperature (°F) | Wind Speed (mph) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | |
| 40 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
| 35 | 31 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 |
| 30 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
| 25 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| 20 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 |
| 15 | 7 | 3 | 0 | -2 | -4 | -5 | -7 | -8 | -9 |
| 10 | 1 | -4 | -7 | -9 | -11 | -12 | -14 | -15 | -16 |
| 5 | -5 | -10 | -13 | -15 | -17 | -19 | -21 | -22 | -23 |
| 0 | -11 | -16 | -19 | -22 | -24 | -26 | -27 | -29 | -30 |
| -5 | -16 | -22 | -26 | -29 | -31 | -33 | -34 | -36 | -37 |
| -10 | -22 | -28 | -32 | -35 | -37 | -39 | -41 | -43 | -44 |
| -15 | -28 | -35 | -39 | -42 | -44 | -46 | -48 | -50 | -51 |
| -20 | -34 | -41 | -45 | -48 | -51 | -53 | -55 | -57 | -58 |
| -25 | -40 | -47 | -51 | -55 | -58 | -60 | -62 | -64 | -65 |
| -30 | -46 | -53 | -58 | -61 | -64 | -67 | -69 | -71 | -72 |
| -35 | -52 | -59 | -64 | -68 | -71 | -73 | -76 | -78 | -79 |
| -40 | -57 | -66 | -71 | -74 | -78 | -80 | -82 | -84 | -86 |
| -45 | -63 | -72 | -77 | -81 | -84 | -87 | -89 | -91 | -93 |
| Frostbite Times: | 5 minutes | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
Wind chill is calculated using the formula mentioned above, which considers the wind speed and the air temperature to estimate the perceived cold.
The formula for the wind chill temperature in Fahrenheit is:
$$\text{Wind Chill} = 35.74 + 0.6215 \times T - 35.75 \times (V^{0.16}) + 0.4275 \times T \times (V^{0.16})$$
At 40 degrees Fahrenheit, with no wind, the wind chill factor does not reduce the perceived temperature. However, increasing wind speeds will decrease the wind chill value, making it feel colder than the actual temperature.
A windchill chart is a visual tool that maps the relationship between wind speed, air temperature, and the resulting perceived temperature or wind chill factor. It allows users to quickly determine how cold it will feel outside under various conditions.
Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, lowering the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature, thereby affecting how cold the environment feels.
Wind chill does not affect inanimate objects and cannot freeze water. It only describes how cold the air feels to living beings, influencing the rate of heat loss from the skin.
To calculate wind chill in Excel, input the wind chill formula into a cell with variables for temperature and wind speed. Excel will compute the wind chill based on the given inputs, allowing for quick calculations across different conditions.
Yes, wind chill is expressed in temperature units, either Fahrenheit (°F) or Celsius (°C), indicating the perceived cold due to wind speed and air temperature.
Extreme wind chill conditions can occur in polar regions. Specific records vary, but wind chill values can dramatically decrease perceived temperatures, emphasizing the importance of proper preparation and clothing.
Wind chill feels colder because the wind increases the rate of heat loss from the body. This accelerated heat loss makes the environment feel colder than the actual air temperature.
The coldest wind conditions typically occur in Arctic and Antarctic regions, where extreme wind speeds can combine with low temperatures to create dangerously cold wind chill factors.
To read a wind chill chart, locate the current air temperature on one axis and the wind speed on another. Follow these to their intersection point to find the perceived temperature, or wind chill factor.
The wind chill at a wind speed of 25 mph can significantly reduce the perceived temperature, depending on the actual air temperature. For specific calculations, use the wind chill formula or refer to a wind chill chart.
The number of layers needed in wind chill conditions depends on the severity of the wind chill factor. As a general rule, dressing in layers, including a wind-resistant outer layer, can help insulate and protect against cold temperatures and wind.