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Wind Chill Calculator | Get feels-like temp & frostbite risk

Calculates the wind chill, or feels-like temperature, on cold days. Enter the air temperature and wind speed, and the tool applies the National Weather Service wind chill formula to compute how cold the air actually feels on exposed skin, and includes the time to frostbite at that combination.

Last updated: June 2026 · Free · No sign-up required

Results

Enter values above and click Calculate to see your result instantly.

Quick reference

Wind chillFrostbite risk
Above 0 °FLow for short exposure
-1 to -18 °FFrostbite in 30 minutes
-19 to -35 °FFrostbite in 10 minutes
-36 °F and belowFrostbite in 5 minutes

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Interpretation guide

FactorEffect
Higher wind speedStrips body heat faster → feels colder
Applies at or below50 °F and wind above 3 mph
Only affectsExposed skin / living things, not objects

lightbulb Worked example

Let's say you are using the Wind Chill Calculator. Calculates the wind chill, or feels-like temperature, on cold days. Enter the air temperature and wind speed, and the tool applies the National Weather Service wind chill formula to compute how cold Enter the values that match your situation into the input fields and press calculate — using realistic numbers makes the result directly useful for you.

Result: The calculator instantly applies the formula WC = 35.74 + 0.6215*T - 35.75*V^0.16 + 0.4275*T*V^0.16 (T in °F, V in mph) and returns the result with appropriate precision.

What this means: Read the result in the context of what you are measuring. The step-by-step breakdown lets you confirm the math and understand which input most affects the outcome.

Formula & methodology

Formula: WC = 35.74 + 0.6215*T - 35.75*V^0.16 + 0.4275*T*V^0.16 (T in °F, V in mph)

How wind chill is calculated

The tool applies the NWS wind chill formula WC = 35.74 + 0.6215T − 35.75V^0.16 + 0.4275T×V^0.16, where T is the air temperature in °F and V the wind speed in mph, valid for winds above 3 mph. It estimates the perceived temperature from heat loss on exposed skin.

Example: at 20°F with a 20 mph wind, WC = 35.74 + 12.43 − 51.15 + 8.55 ≈ 5.6°F — it feels far colder than the thermometer says.

Reading the result: wind chill only applies to people and animals — objects cool to the air temperature regardless of wind. The National Weather Service uses it for cold-weather advisories: at −20°F wind chill, frostbite can develop in under 30 minutes, so the number is a safety signal as much as a comfort metric.

Authoritative source: timeanddate.com

Frequently asked questions

What is wind chill?
Wind chill is the 'feels-like' temperature on a cold, windy day. Moving air carries away the warm layer next to your skin faster than still air, increasing heat loss, so it feels colder than the measured temperature. The National Weather Service uses it to warn about frostbite and hypothermia risk.
How is wind chill calculated?
The modern (2001) formula is WC = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75V^0.16 + 0.4275T x V^0.16, with temperature T in °F and wind speed V in mph. At 20 °F with a 25 mph wind, the wind chill is about 2 °F. It is valid at temperatures of 50 °F or below and winds above 3 mph.
At what wind chill does frostbite occur?
Frostbite risk rises sharply as wind chill drops. Around -1 to -18 °F, exposed skin can freeze in about 30 minutes; at -19 to -35 °F, in roughly 10 minutes; and at -36 °F or colder, in as little as 5 minutes. Cover all skin and limit time outdoors in these conditions.
Does wind chill affect objects like car engines or pipes?
No. Wind chill only describes how cold it feels to exposed skin and other warm living things that are losing heat. Wind makes objects reach the actual air temperature faster, but it cannot cool them below it. A pipe will freeze based on the true air temperature, not the wind chill.
What is the difference between wind chill and the actual temperature?
The actual temperature is what a thermometer reads. Wind chill factors in how wind accelerates heat loss from your body, giving a lower 'feels-like' value. The stronger the wind, the bigger the gap. Wind chill matters for human safety and comfort, while the actual temperature governs physical processes like freezing.
What does the Wind Chill Calculator do?
Calculates the wind chill, or feels-like temperature, on cold days. Enter the air temperature and wind speed, and the tool applies the National Weather Service wind chill formula to compute how cold the air actually feels on exposed skin, and includes the. The calculator takes your inputs, applies the standard calculation, and returns a clear result so you can make an informed decision without doing the math by hand.
What formula does the Wind Chill Calculator use?
The Wind Chill Calculator applies the standard formula: WC = 35.74 + 0.6215*T - 35.75*V^0.16 + 0.4275*T*V^0.16 (T in °F, V in mph). The tool walks through each step of the calculation so you can verify the numbers yourself.
Is the Wind Chill Calculator free and private?
Yes — the Wind Chill Calculator. There is no sign-up, no paywall, no trial, and no limit on how many calculations you can run. CalcaTools covers its costs with non-intrusive display advertising, so the calculator itself never asks for payment or restricts any feature.
How accurate is the Wind Chill Calculator?
The Wind Chill Calculator applies the standard formula: WC = 35.74 + 0.6215*T - 35.75*V^0.16 + 0.4275*T*V^0.16 (T in °F, V in mph). It is tested against published worked examples before launch and uses native double-precision arithmetic, so results are accurate to typical precision for the values you enter — with no intermediate rounding that could distort the answer.

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