Canada’s wind chill index is accurate, easy to understand and reflects the needs of Canadians. It uses research from human volunteers and advanced computer technology combined with recent medical advances. This assists in the understanding of how the body loses heat when exposed to cold. As a result, the wind chill observations and forecasts that you hear are now much more representative of what you actually feel.

The index is displayed in temperature-like units, the format preferred by most Canadians. By equating the outdoor conditions to an equivalent temperature with no wind, the index represents the degree of “chill” that your skin senses. For example, if the wind chill is -20 while the outside temperature is only -10ºC, it means that your face will feel as cold as if it was a calm day (no wind) with a temperature of -20ºC.

The wind chill index allows Canadians to learn the best ways to avoid injuries from the cold. This includes dressing warmly to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. As well as making informed decisions based on accurate wind chill information, such as whether it is safe for children to play outdoors.

On cold and blustery winter days, listen for the wind chill index in your local weather forecast.