The sensation of what it "feels like" outside, often called the apparent temperature or "feels like" temperature, differs from the actual air temperature because it accounts for additional factors that affect how humans perceive temperature. These factors include humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation.
- When it's hot and humid, the air feels hotter than the actual temperature because high humidity slows the evaporation of sweat from the skin, reducing the body's ability to cool itself. This is measured by the heat index
- When it's cold and windy, it feels colder than the actual temperature because wind increases heat loss from the body, a phenomenon known as wind chill
- Solar radiation can also make it feel warmer than the shaded air temperature, though this is not directly measured by standard thermometers
The "feels like" temperature is a more accurate reflection of outdoor comfort because it considers how the human body interacts with the environment, including the body's heat generation and cooling mechanisms like sweating and heat loss
. In summary, outside can feel hotter or colder than the thermometer reads due to humidity, wind, and sun exposure, which affect how your body gains or loses heat
