Wind affects your body temperature far more than most people realise. On a day of 18°C with a strong breeze it can feel like 12°C. That's the difference between sitting comfortably outside and being cold.
How does windchill work?
Wind speeds up the transfer of heat away from your skin. The stronger the wind, the faster you cool down. This effect is called windchill or feels-like temperature. It's stronger at lower temperatures — at 30°C you barely notice wind as a cold factor, but at 15°C it's decisive.
What does wind do at different temperatures?
| Air temperature | Wind force | Speed | Feels-like temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20°C | Calm | 0 km/h | 20°C |
| 20°C | Force 3 | 20 km/h | 17°C |
| 20°C | Force 5 | 35 km/h | 14°C |
| 15°C | Calm | 0 km/h | 15°C |
| 15°C | Force 3 | 20 km/h | 11°C |
| 15°C | Force 5 | 35 km/h | 8°C |
| 12°C | Force 4 | 28 km/h | 7°C |
When is wind too much for shorts?
There's no universal threshold, but a useful rule of thumb: when windchill pushes the feels-like below 13–14°C, shorts become uncomfortable for most people. That happens at wind force 3–4 already if the air temperature is below 17°C.
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Wind + cloud + low temperature: the worst combination
Wind alone is already bad, but wind combined with overcast skies and a lower temperature is the most unfavourable combination for shorts weather. No solar warmth as a buffer, plus wind carrying heat away from your skin. On a day of 14°C, fully overcast and 30 km/h wind you're at a feels-like of 8–9°C. Shorts are not an option for anyone at that point.
What if you're in a sheltered spot?
Wind matters less when you have shelter. On a terrace with windbreaks, in a garden with high walls or in a park with trees, you can sit relatively warm even at wind force 4. In that case the local feels-like temperature is higher than what the weather station registers.
KorteBroekAan.nl gives advice based on the weather station near your location. If you have a sheltered spot, conditions may be more pleasant in reality than the advice suggests.
Conclusion
Wind is the most underestimated factor in deciding whether shorts are a good idea. Always check wind speed and feels-like temperature, not just air temperature. Wind force 4 or above combined with a temperature below 17°C is too much for most people in shorts.
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