wind chill factor

wind chill factor

Wilderness medicine An index used to adjust the actual air temperature to express the intensity of cooling expected from a cold environment as a function of the ambient temperature and wind speed; the WCF is a measure of the effect of air temperature and wind speed on human comfort and safety. The correct term is windchill index but is unlikely to
prevail in the forseeable future. Humidity and radiant heat energy tend to be less important in cold environments. See Hypothermia.

Wind Chill Equivalents in ºC/ºF for Reference

Wind Speeds of 2.5 KPH/4MPH

Temp  2.5/4 6/10 12/20 19/30 25/40 30/50

4.5ºC/+40ºF 4.5ºC/+40ºF -2ºC/+28ºF -8ºC/+18ºF -10.5ºC/+13ºF -12ºC/+10ºF -13ºC/+9ºF

-1ºC/30ºF -1ºC/30ºF -9ºC/+16ºF -16ºC/+4ºF -19ºC/-2ºF -21ºC/-6ºF -22ºC/-7ºF

-7ºC/20ºF -7ºC/20ºF -16ºC/+4ºF -23ºC/-10ºF -28ºC/-18ºF -30ºC/-22ºF -30ºC/-23ºF

-12ºC/10ºF -12ºC/10ºF -23ºC/-9ºF -32ºC/-25ºF -36ºC/-33ºF -38ºC/-37ºF -39ºC/-39ºF

-18ºC/0ºF -18ºC/0ºF -29ºC/-21ºF -39ºC/-39ºF -44ºC/-48ºF -47ºC/-53ºF -49ºC/-55ºF

-23ºC/-10ºF -23ºC/-10ºF -36ºC/-33ºF -47ºC/-53ºF -53ºC/-64ºF -56ºC/-69ºF -57ºC/-71ºF

-29ºC/-20ºF -29ºC/-20ºF -43ºC/-46ºF -55ºC/-67ºF -62ºC/-79ºF -65ºC/-85ºF -66ºC/-87ºF

Last, Wallace, Eds, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, 13^th ed, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, 1992