wind chill index

or wind·chill in·dex

[ wind chil in-deks, win- ]

noun

, Meteorology.

1. a chart from which the combined effects of temperature and wind speed are formulaically calculated to determine wind chill:

   Once we hit a certain zone on the wind chill index, the risk of frostbite is apparent.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wind chill index¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Natalie Hasell, a warning preparedness meteorologist for the Canadian government, helps answer the question: What is the ‘wind chill index,’ anyway?

From New York Times

These days, Ms. Hasell uses a different method for capturing the feeling of cold that takes into account both temperature and wind: the wind chill index.

From New York Times

The wind chill index we use today expresses how cold the ambient temperature would have to be for you to lose heat at the same rate.

From New York Times

There have been several iterations of the wind chill index dating to at least 1939, according to a historical review published in the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.

From New York Times

He posted an 88, still shy of the record-high score of 92 that Roger Maltbie shot in 1979 in a second round that featured 30 mph wind and a wind chill index of 13 degrees.

From Washington Times