The “feels like” temperature, also known as the apparent temperature, is a measure commonly used in weather forecasts to describe how hot or cold the outside temperature feels to our bodies. It combines the effects of air temperature, humidity, and wind into a single value that gives a more accurate representation of the actual sensation experienced by people in the given conditions. In this article, we will explore the factors that influence the “feels like” temperature and explain how you can calculate it yourself.

Factors Affecting the Feels Like Temperature

1. Air Temperature: The primary factor that determines how hot or cold it feels outside is, of course, the air temperature. However, other variables like humidity and wind significantly influence our bodies’ perception of this temperature.

2. Humidity: Humidity plays a significant role in calculating the “feels like” temperature during hot conditions. When humidity is high, our bodies are less effective at cooling down through sweat evaporation. This inefficiency makes us feel even hotter than what the actual air temperature suggests.

3. Wind: In contrast, wind speed becomes a more influential factor during colder weather. Wind causes heat to be removed from our bodies more rapidly through convection, making us feel colder than what the air temperature alone may indicate.

Calculating Feels Like Temperature

To calculate the “feels like” temperature during warm weather, you can use the Heat Index formula. The Heat Index considers both air temperature (in Fahrenheit) and relative humidity (in percentage). Here’s an approximation of this formula:

Heat Index = -42.379 + 2.04901523 * T + 10.14333127 * R – 0.22475541 * T * R – 0.00683783 * T^2 – 0.05481717 * R^2 + 0.00122874 * T^2 * R + 0.00085282 * T * R^2 – 0.00000199 * T^2 * R^2

where T is the air temperature in Fahrenheit and R is the relative humidity in percentage.

For cold weather, you can use the Wind Chill formula, which factors in air temperature (in Fahrenheit) and wind speed (in miles per hour):

Wind Chill = 35.74 + 0.6215 * T – 35.75 * V^0.16 + 0.4275 * T * V^0.16

where T is the air temperature in Fahrenheit and V is the wind speed in miles per hour.

Conclusion

Understanding how to calculate the “feels like” temperature is a valuable tool for assessing comfort levels in various weather conditions. By taking into account air temperature, humidity, and wind speed, we receive a more accurate representation of the thermal sensation experienced by our bodies. So, next time you check the weather forecast, make sure to pay attention to this value to stay comfortable during your outdoor activities!