Find out how cold it really feels outside. Enter the air temperature and wind speed in any common unit to get the wind chill from the official 2001 NWS / Environment Canada formula, the frostbite risk band and how the chill changes at other wind speeds.
Last updated:
Sustained wind from the forecast (10 m height), not gusts.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Wind Chill Calculator
Enter the air temperature and choose °C or °F.
Enter the wind speed from your forecast and choose its unit.
Press Calculate wind chill to see the feels-like temperature.
Check the frostbite risk and how fast exposed skin could freeze.
Scroll to the table to see how much colder it gets if the wind picks up.
Wind chill chart (°C, wind in km/h)
Wind ↓ / Air →
5 °C
0 °C
−5 °C
−10 °C
−15 °C
−20 °C
−25 °C
−30 °C
10 km/h
2.7
−3.3
−9.3
−15.3
−21.2
−27.2
−33.2
−39.2
20 km/h
1.1
−5.2
−11.6
−17.9
−24.2
−30.5
−36.8
−43.1
30 km/h
0.1
−6.5
−13.0
−19.5
−26.0
−32.6
−39.1
−45.6
40 km/h
−0.7
−7.4
−14.1
−20.8
−27.4
−34.1
−40.8
−47.5
50 km/h
−1.3
−8.1
−15.0
−21.8
−28.6
−35.4
−42.2
−49.0
60 km/h
−1.8
−8.8
−15.7
−22.6
−29.5
−36.5
−43.4
−50.3
Wind chill risk levels
Wind chill
Risk
What it means
0 to −9 °C (32 to 16 °F)
Low
Slightly uncomfortable
−10 to −27 °C (14 to −17 °F)
Moderate
Hypothermia and frostbite possible with long exposure
−28 to −39 °C (−18 to −38 °F)
High
Exposed skin can freeze in 10–30 minutes
−40 to −47 °C (−40 to −53 °F)
Very high
Exposed skin can freeze in 5–10 minutes
−48 to −54 °C (−54 to −65 °F)
Severe
Exposed skin can freeze in 2–5 minutes
−55 °C (−67 °F) and colder
Extreme
Exposed skin can freeze in under 2 minutes; stay indoors
Risk bands follow Environment Canada's wind chill guidance. Cover the face, ears, nose and fingers first, as they are the first to freeze, and stay dry: wet clothing loses its insulation quickly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the wind chill formula?
The formula used by the US National Weather Service and Environment Canada since 2001 is WC = 35.74 + 0.6215T − 35.75V^0.16 + 0.4275TV^0.16, with T in °F and V in mph. The metric version is WC = 13.12 + 0.6215T − 11.37V^0.16 + 0.3965TV^0.16 with T in °C and V in km/h.
When does wind chill apply?
Only at air temperatures of 10 °C (50 °F) or below and wind speeds of at least 4.8 km/h (3 mph). Outside that range the formula is not valid, and the feels-like temperature is simply the air temperature (in hot weather the heat index is used instead).
How long until frostbite?
Environment Canada's guidance: at a wind chill of −28 °C exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes, at −40 °C in 5 to 10 minutes, at −48 °C in 2 to 5 minutes, and at −55 °C or colder in under 2 minutes. Wet skin, poor circulation and some medications make it happen faster.
Can wind chill freeze water or cool a car below air temperature?
No. Wind chill describes how fast exposed human skin loses heat. Objects, pipes and car engines cool faster in wind but never below the actual air temperature, so water will not freeze if the air is above 0 °C (32 °F).
Which wind speed should I use?
Use the sustained wind speed from your forecast, which is measured 10 m (33 ft) above the ground. The formula already adjusts it to face height. Gusts briefly make it feel colder than the calculated value.
Why is the wind chill different from older charts?
Before 2001 a formula from the 1940s Antarctic experiments by Siple and Passel was used, which made it seem much colder. The current index is based on modern heat-transfer models and human trials, giving more realistic feels-like values.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.