Is the Wind Chill Calculator free to use?

Yes, our Wind Chill Calculator is completely free to use with no registration required.

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Wind Chill Calculator

Calculate wind chill temperature based on air temperature and wind speed. Understand frostbite risk, danger levels, and cold weather safety tips using the National Weather Service formula.

Air Temperature (°F)

Wind Speed (mph)

Quick Calculate

Wind Chill Temperature

17°F

Feels Like

Danger Level

Moderate Risk

Frostbite Time

None

Caution — cold exposure can cause frostbite on exposed skin with prolonged exposure.

Wind Chill Formula (NWS)

Wind Chill (°F) = 35.74 + 0.6215×T - 35.75×V^0.16 + 0.4275×T×V^0.16

Where T = air temperature (°F) and V = wind speed (mph)

This formula is used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States and is valid for wind speeds above 3 mph and temperatures at or below 50°F.

How to Dress for Cold Weather

32 to 15°F (0 to -10°C)

Dress warmly with layers appropriate for the outside temperature.

15 to -15°F (-10 to -25°C)

Risk of hypothermia for long exposure. Dress in layers: wicking base layer, insulating fleece/wool, and wind-resistant outer layer. Wear a hat, mittens, and scarf.

-15 to -50°F (-25 to -45°C)

Risk of frostbite on exposed skin. Cover all exposed skin, particularly face and hands. Add synthetic or down insulation layers.

-50 to -75°F (-45 to -60°C)

Exposed skin may freeze in minutes. Limit outdoor activities to short periods or cancel entirely.

-75°F (-60°C) and colder

Outdoor conditions are hazardous. Exposed skin may freeze in less than two minutes. Stay indoors.

Frostbite Risk by Wind Chill

Wind chill above 32°F (0°C)Low Risk

Wind chill 13°F to 32°F (-10°C to 0°C)Moderate Risk

Wind chill -4°F to 13°F (-20°C to -10°C)Frostbite in 30 min

Wind chill -18°F to -4°F (-28°C to -20°C)Frostbite in 10-30 min

Wind chill -28°F to -18°F (-33°C to -28°C)Frostbite in 5-10 min

Wind chill -45°F to -28°F (-43°C to -33°C)Frostbite in 2-5 min

Wind chill below -45°F (-43°C)Frostbite in under 2 min

Wind Chill Chart (°F)

Temp (°F)	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
	mph	mph	mph	mph	mph	mph	mph	mph	mph	mph	mph	mph
50°F	48	46	45	44	43	42	41	41	40	40	40	39
40°F	36	34	32	30	29	28	28	27	26	26	25	25
30°F	25	21	19	17	16	15	14	13	12	12	11	10
20°F	13	9	6	4	3	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-3	-4
10°F	1	-4	-7	-9	-11	-12	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19
0°F	-11	-16	-19	-22	-24	-26	-27	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33
-5°F	-16	-22	-26	-29	-31	-33	-34	-36	-37	-38	-39	-40
-10°F	-22	-28	-32	-35	-37	-39	-41	-43	-44	-45	-46	-48
-15°F	-28	-35	-39	-42	-44	-46	-48	-50	-51	-52	-54	-55
-20°F	-34	-41	-45	-48	-51	-53	-55	-57	-58	-60	-61	-62
-25°F	-40	-47	-51	-55	-58	-60	-62	-64	-65	-67	-68	-69
-30°F	-46	-53	-58	-61	-64	-67	-69	-71	-72	-74	-75	-76
-35°F	-52	-59	-64	-68	-71	-73	-76	-78	-79	-81	-82	-84
-40°F	-57	-66	-71	-74	-78	-80	-82	-84	-86	-88	-89	-91
-45°F	-63	-72	-77	-81	-84	-87	-89	-91	-93	-95	-97	-98

Wind speeds shown in mph. Color coding: black = low risk, orange = moderate frostbite risk, red = severe frostbite risk.

How to Use

1
Select your unit system — Imperial (°F, mph) or Metric (°C, km/h)
2
Enter the current air temperature — wind chill is only valid for temperatures at or below 50°F (10°C)
3
Enter the wind speed — must be above 3 mph (4.8 km/h) for the formula to apply
4
View your wind chill temperature, danger level, and estimated frostbite time
5
Use the quick calculate buttons for common temperature and wind speed scenarios
6
Understanding the key inputs — wind chill measures how cold it feels when wind is factored in, not the actual air temperature. The faster the wind, the faster your body loses heat through convection
7
Interpreting the results — the frostbite time shows how quickly exposed skin can freeze at the calculated wind chill. The danger level color coding helps you quickly assess outdoor safety
8
Check the wind chill chart below for a comprehensive overview of wind chill values across a range of temperatures and wind speeds to plan outdoor activities safely

Examples

Good Examples

Winter morning with moderate wind

30°F air temperature with 20 mph wind → wind chill of 17°F — dress warmly in layers and cover exposed skin

Severe cold snap with strong wind

-10°F with 40 mph wind → wind chill of -43°F — frostbite possible in under 5 minutes. Avoid outdoor activity

Mild winter day planning a run

35°F with 10 mph wind → wind chill of 28°F — safe for outdoor exercise with appropriate cold weather gear

Metric unit calculation for European users

0°C with 30 km/h wind → wind chill of approximately -9°C (16°F) — moderate frostbite risk for exposed skin

Comparing conditions for outdoor workers

Monday: 20°F with 15 mph wind (WC 9°F). Tuesday: 10°F with 35 mph wind (WC -11°F). Tuesday is significantly more dangerous despite only 10°F difference in air temperature

Planning ski trip conditions

Summit: 5°F with 25 mph wind → wind chill of -19°F — frostbite risk in 10-30 minutes. Full face covering and hand protection essential

Bad Examples

Using wind chill for warm temperatures

Wind chill formula is not valid above 50°F (10°C) — at warm temperatures, wind actually helps cool the body rather than making it feel colder

Ignoring wind chill and only looking at air temperature

A 20°F day with 30 mph wind feels like 3°F — dressing for 20°F alone puts you at risk of frostbite

Confusing wind chill with actual temperature

A wind chill of -30°F does not mean water freezes faster or your car engine behaves differently — it only affects how quickly living tissue loses heat

Common Mistakes

Using wind chill above 50°F (10°C) — the formula only applies at cold temperatures where wind accelerates heat loss from exposed skin
Confusing wind chill temperature with actual air temperature — wind chill is a "feels like" measure, not a thermometer reading
Ignoring wind chill when planning outdoor activities — air temperature alone does not reflect the true danger of cold weather exposure
Not covering exposed skin — frostbite can occur in minutes at extreme wind chill values even when the air temperature seems manageable
Assuming wind chill affects objects — wind chill only applies to living tissue and how quickly it loses heat; it does not affect inanimate objects like car engines or pipes
Forgetting that wind chill can be deceptive indoors — looking outside and seeing sunshine can make you underestimate the danger when wind chill is extreme
Not accounting for wind chill when dressing children or elderly — vulnerable populations lose heat faster and are more susceptible to cold injury
Using wind speed at ground level when the reported wind is measured at a different height — official wind measurements are typically taken at 33 feet (10 meters) above ground

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the wind chill formula?

The National Weather Service wind chill formula is: $\text{Wind Chill} = 35.74 + 0.6215 \times T - 35.75 \times V^{0.16} + 0.4275 \times T \times V^{0.16}$ , where $T$ is the air temperature in °F and $V$ is the wind speed in mph. This formula was adopted in 2001 based on research from the University of Toronto.

At what wind chill temperature does frostbite occur?

Frostbite risk increases as wind chill drops. At wind chills between -4°F and 13°F (-20°C to -10°C), frostbite can occur in about 30 minutes. At -18°F to -4°F, frostbite can develop in 10-30 minutes. Below -28°F, frostbite can occur in as little as 5-10 minutes, and below -45°F, exposed skin can freeze in under 2 minutes.

Does wind chill affect cars and water pipes?

No. Wind chill only applies to living tissue and describes how quickly exposed skin loses heat. Inanimate objects like car engines, water pipes, and water freezing points are affected by the actual air temperature, not the wind chill temperature.

What is the difference between wind chill and heat index?

Wind chill measures how cold it feels in winter when wind accelerates heat loss from exposed skin. Heat index measures how hot it feels in summer when humidity slows the body's ability to cool itself through sweating. Both provide a "feels like" temperature that is more useful than the actual air temperature for assessing comfort and safety.

How do I convert wind chill between Fahrenheit and Celsius?

After calculating wind chill in °F using the NWS formula, convert to °C using the standard formula: $°C = (°F - 32) \times \frac{5}{9}$ . Note that you cannot simply convert the input temperature to Celsius and use a different formula — the NWS formula is defined in Fahrenheit, so calculate in °F first and then convert the result.

How accurate is the wind chill calculator?

The calculator uses the exact NWS wind chill formula adopted in 2001, so it is mathematically precise. However, wind chill is an estimate of perceived temperature — individual factors like clothing, activity level, body fat percentage, age, and health conditions affect how cold you actually feel. The calculator provides a standardized reference for planning outdoor activities.

What is the lowest survivable wind chill?

There is no specific wind chill that is immediately fatal, as survival depends on clothing, exposure time, and individual health. However, at wind chills below -50°F (-45°C), unprotected exposed skin can freeze in under 5 minutes, and hypothermia becomes a serious risk within 10-15 minutes even with winter clothing. At -75°F (-60°C) and below, outdoor conditions are considered hazardous and all outdoor activities should be canceled.

At what temperature should I worry about wind chill?

Wind chill becomes a concern when the air temperature drops below 40°F (4°C) and wind speeds exceed 10 mph. At this point, exposed skin starts losing heat faster than it can be replaced. The NWS issues wind chill advisories when wind chill is expected to reach -15°F (-26°C) or lower, and wind chill warnings at -25°F (-32°C) or lower.