The Windchill Factor
We all know how much colder it feels when the wind picks up. This is because of windchill: the apparent temperature felt on exposed skin due to wind. The degree of wind chill depends on air temperature and wind speed
Even when temperatures are about average, strong North Easterly winds can make it feel bitterly cold in the UK.
Elsewhere, in places like Antarctica, the windchill factor plays a huge role in determining risk of frostbite.
In calm air a temperature of 0 Celsius feels like 0 Celsius. But if there is a wind of 10 knots blowing, it will feel the same as -5 Celsius.
However, the windchill factor doesn’t account for everything: things like humidity and damp kit will make you feel colder too.
Use our windchill calculator to work out how cold it will feel when you factor in the wind...
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