Wind Chill Calculator
Calculate wind chill factor using NWS formula. See frostbite risk time and danger level.
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: NWS — Wind Chill Chart and FAQ
Wind Chill Temperature
6°F
Extreme Cold
Actual Temp
20°F
Feels Like
6°F
Frostbite Time (exposed skin)
Longer than 30 minutes
What to Wear
Heavy insulation required. Minimize time outdoors. Protect all exposed skin.
Wind Chill at Various Wind Speeds
| 5 mph | 13°F |
| 10 mph | 9°F |
| 15 mph | 6°F |
| 20 mph | 4°F |
| 25 mph | 3°F |
| 30 mph | 1°F |
| 40 mph | -1°F |
Wind chill is calculated using the National Weather Service formula. It estimates how cold it feels on exposed skin based on air temperature and wind speed. Always monitor for signs of frostbite and hypothermia in cold conditions.
Use the Wind Chill Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and the assumptions described on this page.
How It Works
Cold air feels colder when the wind blows, and the wind chill figure puts a number on that gap. It estimates the temperature your body actually experiences once moving air strips heat away from exposed skin, which can sit well below the reading on a thermometer. Knowing that effective temperature is what lets you dress for a winter morning and steer clear of frostbite or hypothermia before they start.
The National Weather Service formula drives the result: Wind Chill (ºF) = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75(V^0.16) + 0.4275T(V^0.16), with T as the air temperature in Fahrenheit and V as wind speed in miles per hour. Researchers built it from heat-transfer modeling and tests on human volunteers so it mirrors the real rate at which wind pulls warmth off bare skin. Alongside the temperature, the tool flags a danger level and an estimated time before frostbite sets in.
One limit is worth holding onto: wind chill acts only on exposed skin, not on objects or on parts of your body that are covered. Pipes that might freeze and the fluids in your car respond to the actual air temperature, so use that figure for those concerns. People also tend to misjudge how fast frostbite arrives, and in a hard wind at low temperatures it can happen in minutes.
Example: Hiking in the Rocky Mountains
- 1 Input an air temperature of 10°F and a wind speed of 25 mph.
- 2 Using the NWS formula: 25^0.16 = 1.6737, so Wind Chill = 35.74 + 0.6215(10) − 35.75(1.6737) + 0.4275(10)(1.6737) = 35.74 + 6.215 − 59.835 + 7.155 = −10.7°F.
- 3 The calculator rounds this to −11°F, the same value the NWS wind chill chart lists for 10°F and 25 mph, and labels it 'Danger' because it is below −10°F.
- 4 On the NWS chart, −11°F sits just outside the shaded frostbite zones; at 25 mph the 30-minute frostbite zone begins at an air temperature of 0°F (a −24°F wind chill). Cover exposed skin anyway, and recheck conditions often, as wind speeds can change quickly in mountain terrain.
Source: NWS — Wind Chill Chart and FAQ · Last updated: September 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is wind chill and how is it calculated?
At what wind chill is frostbite a danger?
Does wind chill affect objects like car engines?
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