Wind Chill Explained — How Cold It Really Feels

What Is Wind Chill?

Wind chill is the perceived decrease in temperature felt by your body when wind combines with cold air. A thermometer might read -5°C, but if the wind is blowing at 30 km/h, your skin loses heat as fast as it would at -13°C in calm conditions.

How Wind Chill Works

Your body constantly radiates a thin layer of warm air against your skin. In calm conditions, this insulating layer stays put. Wind strips it away, forcing your body to work harder to maintain its core temperature.

The faster the wind, the quicker the warm layer disappears, and the colder you feel.

Wind Chill Chart

Frostbite Risk

Wind chill below -27°C can cause frostbite on exposed skin within 10-30 minutes. Cover every patch of skin and limit time outdoors.

Practical Tips

• Check both the temperature and wind chill before going outside in winter
• Wind chill only affects living things and water — it does not make your car engine colder
• Dress in windproof outer layers; even a light shell over a fleece blocks heat loss dramatically
• Shelter behind buildings, trees, or terrain to reduce wind exposure

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Check wind speed and feels-like temperature on Weather Tomorrow.