Ask Dr Bec: How is ‘feels like’ temperature measured?

How is ‘feels like’ temperature measured and why can’t you measure it by just putting a thermometer outside? asks 7-year-old James P.

Imagine you’re walking up to the Mt Kaputar summit on the coldest day of the year.

In 2022 the temperature dropped to -2.2°C and those who were willing to brave the elements said that it felt more like -10°C!

When the wind picks up, it can make it feel way colder than it is.

That’s because the wind strips away the warm air around your body, making us feel much chillier.

Now, let’s switch to a hot day out in a paddock at harvest where it’s 38°C.

Without the wind, it can feel incredibly hot, but if the wind picks up, it might feel more like 30°C.

That’s because the wind can make you feel cooler than the actual temperature.

Narrabri’s inland location means that we feel a ‘dry heat’ where the low humidity makes it easier for our bodies to cool down by sweating.

When you combine heat with humidity, we tend to feel like it’s much hotter because the moisture in the air slows down how fast sweat can cool our bodies.

So how do we figure out what the ‘feels like’ temperature is?

Well, we can’t just use a regular thermometer outside.

A thermometer only tells us the air temperature, not how things like wind or humidity are making us feel.

Instead, scientists use a special formula called the Steadman Apparent Temperature.

This formula combines the actual temperature with wind and humidity to estimate how it really feels.

It’s like a super-smart calculator that helps us understand the weather better.

But remember, the Steadman formula doesn’t consider direct sunlight, so if you’re out in the sun, it can feel even hotter!

And if you’re not dressed right, like if your clothes are wet, the cold can feel even worse.