Wind chill Temperature (‘Feels like’)
umasundresh
Ever noticed the “feels like” term in your weather app?
Your Weather app forecasts high, low, and “feels-like” temperatures.
The “feels like” temperature is helpful because it gives a more accurate representation of what it will feel like when you step outside, beyond just the recorded air temperature. It’s a useful metric for individuals to better prepare for the weather and dress accordingly.
The feels-like values are not just randomly predicted numbers but are calculated by considering certain factors using the wind chill formula.
In 1945, Paul Allman Siple and Charles F. Passel created the wind chill formula that is currently in use in the United States and Canada. They conducted experiments with human subjects to understand how wind and temperature interact to influence perceived coldness. The formula has undergone revisions over the years, and the current version is based on their initial work.
The wind chill formula is used to calculate the wind chill temperature, which is the perceived temperature felt on exposed skin due to the combined effects of the actual air temperature and wind speed.
WCT = 35.74 + 0.6215 X T – 35.74 X V0.16 + 0.4275 X T X V0.16
- T stands for temperature, and V stands for wind speed.
- WCT is the wind chill temperature in Fahrenheit.
In summary, the formula helps to estimate how wind and temperature interact, providing a more accurate representation of the perceived coldness in windy conditions.
For temperatures in Celsius, a different formula is used. The formula for the Wind Chill Temperature (WCT) index in Celsius is:
WCT = 13.12 + 0.6215 X T – 11.37 V0.16 + 0.3965 X T X V0.16
- T stands for temperature, and V stands for wind speed.
- WCT is the wind chill temperature in Celsius.
Again, it’s important to note that different countries and meteorological agencies may use slightly different formulas or criteria for calculating wind chill, so variations may exist in different regions.
