This paper presents a non-linear finite element model for cooling towers under realistic wind load processes. On the structural side both geometrical and physical non-linearities are considered, taking into account tension cracking and crushing of concrete, yielding of reinforcement, and tension stiffening. The wind load is treated as a stochastic process, consisting of a multi-correlated field of nodal wind pressures. Samples of this field showing a desired spectral distribution and correlation structure are generated via autoregressive filter techniques. Currently, the stochastic properties are simply assumed, but in the future shall be taken from a data base filled with experimental data. The structural response is calculated in the time domain by an implicit Newmark integrator with Newton-Raphson equilibrium iterations.