It looks at temperatures and winter wind to determine how cold it will feel outside to the human body and animals. Wind pulls heat away from the body which can bring down our body temperature.
This number is calculated by an actual formula:
Windchill ( degrees Fahrenheit) = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75(V^0.16) + 0.4275T(V^0.16)
T = Air Temperature (Fahrenheit)
V = Wind Speed (mph)
^ = raised to a power (exponential)
Windchill temperature is only defined for temperatures at or below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and wind speeds above 3 mph. Bright sunshine may increase the windchill temperature between 10 and 18 degrees.
If the windchill is expected to drop low enough, the National Weather Service will issue a wind chill advisory or warning to alert people to the potential for frostbite and hypothermia.
About the Author