Wind Chill Calculator: Understanding the "Feels Like" Temperature

What is Wind Chill?

Wind chill is the perceived decrease in air temperature felt by the human body due to the flow of air. It's often referred to as the "feels like" temperature because it represents how cold people feel, rather than the actual air temperature.

Wind Chill Formula

The wind chill formula used in the United States and Canada is:

\[WC = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75V^{0.16} + 0.4275TV^{0.16}\]

Where:

• \(WC\) = Wind Chill (°F)
• \(T\) = Air Temperature (°F)
• \(V\) = Wind Speed (mph)

Calculation Steps

1. Ensure temperature is in °F and wind speed is in mph.
2. Apply the formula using the given values.
3. Round the result to the desired number of decimal places.

Example and Visual Representation

Let's calculate the wind chill for:

• Air Temperature: 32°F
• Wind Speed: 15 mph

Applying the formula:

\[WC = 35.74 + 0.6215(32) - 35.75(15)^{0.16} + 0.4275(32)(15)^{0.16}\]

\[WC ≈ 21.6°F\]

This diagram illustrates the wind chill effect. The blue background represents the cold air (32°F), the white arrows show the wind (15 mph), and the red circle indicates how it feels on your skin (21.6°F).