Most of the time, cold is judged in terms of 

a thermometer reading. With people and other 

living things though, both temperature and 

wind speed are needed to produce a "wind chill 

factor". The wind chill is based on the rate 

of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the 

combined effects of the wind and cold. As the

wind increases, heat is carried away from the 

body at an accelerated rate, driving down the 

body temperature. The wind chill shows how 

cold the wind makes exposed flesh feel and is 

a good way to determine the potential of 

frostbite or hypothermia.



Remember...wind chill temperatures apply only to people and other 

living things. If the temperature is 35ºF and the wind chill is 10ºF, 

objects such as pipes or cars will only cool to 35ºF. The wind chill 

factor does not apply to non-living objects. 

   =============================================================

   WIND                         TEMPERATURE                     

   =====+=======================================================

   Calm |  35   30   25   20   15   10    5    0   -5  -10  -15 

   -----+-------------------------------------------------------

     5  |  32   27   22   16   11    6    0   -5  -10  -15  -21 

    10  |  22   16   10    3   -3   -9  -15  -22  -27  -34  -40 

    15  |  16    9    2   -5  -11  -18  -25  -31  -38  -45  -51 

    20  |  12    4   -3  -10  -17  -24  -31  -39  -46  -53  -60 

    25  |   8    1   -7  -15  -22  -29  -36  -44  -51  -59  -66 

    30  |   6   -2  -10  -18  -25  -33  -41  -49  -56  -64  -71 

    35  |   4   -4  -12  -20  -27  -35  -43  -52  -58  -67  -74 

   =====+=======================================================



   Read right and down from the calm-air line. For example, a 

   temperature of 0ºF combined with a 20 mph wind, has an equivalent 

   cooling effect of -39ºF.

updated 990621