Wind Chill Calculator
Calculate how cold the wind really feels using the North American wind chill formula.
Wind chill describes how much colder the wind makes exposed skin feel compared to the actual air temperature. The North American formula — adopted by Environment Canada and the US National Weather Service in 2001 — calculates an equivalent temperature based on heat loss from a human face model. It is not a measure of how cold an object or a wind turbine becomes; it is purely a human-comfort index.
Enter the air temperature (in degrees Celsius) and the wind speed (in km/h) to see the wind chill temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, the difference from the actual temperature, and a plain-language comfort note. The formula is most reliable when the temperature is at or below 10 °C and the wind speed is at least 5 km/h.
Wind chill result
North American wind chill formula: WCI = 13.12 + 0.6215×T − 11.37×V0.16 + 0.3965×T×V0.16. Valid for T ≤ 10°C and V ≥ 5 km/h. Wind chill reflects the cooling effect on exposed skin; it does not affect turbine output.
How to use this tool
- Enter the current air temperature in degrees Celsius.
- Enter the wind speed in km/h (check a weather station or anemometer).
- Press Calculate to see the wind chill temperature and a comfort guide.
- Use Reset to return to the default values.
💡 Good to know
All calculations use standard, published formulas and simplified assumptions so beginners can build intuition. For real projects, always consult qualified engineers and site-specific data.
Frequently asked questions
What is wind chill?
Wind chill is a calculated index representing how cold the air feels on exposed human skin due to the combination of low temperature and wind speed. Wind strips away the thin layer of warm air that forms next to skin, accelerating heat loss.
Does wind chill affect turbine output?
No. Wind chill is a human-comfort index. Turbine output depends on air density and wind speed, not on wind chill. At lower temperatures air density does increase slightly, which can modestly boost power output.
Why is the formula only valid for T ≤ 10 °C and V ≥ 5 km/h?
The formula was derived from experiments on heat loss from a human face model under cold conditions. At higher temperatures or very low wind speeds the heat-loss dynamics differ, and the formula becomes less accurate.
What is the coldest possible wind chill?
There is no hard floor, but wind chills below −50 °C are considered extremely dangerous. At that level, frostbite can develop on exposed skin in just minutes.