Heat Index

Heat index or HI is sometimes referred to as the "apparent Temperature". The HI, given in degrees F, is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity (RH) is added to the actual air temperature.

The following equation approximates the heat index. There are many assumptions made produce this, far too many to list here. The equation was obtain by multiple regression analysis and there is a ±1.3 degree °F error.

HI = -42.379 + 2.04901523T + 10.1433127R - 0.22475541TR - 6.83783x10 -3 T 2 - 5.481717x10 -2 R 2
+ 1.22874x10 -3 T 2R + 8.5282x10 -4 TR 2 - 1.99x10 -6 T 2 R 2

where

T = ambient dry bulb temperature degrees Fahrenheit
R = relative humidity

The equation is only useful for temperatures 80 degrees or higher, and relative humidities 40% or greater.

The previous table was outdated and has been replaced by the following. Thanks to Lans Rothfusz, MIC at NWS Peachtree City, GA for the following table.

HEAT INDEX °F (°C)
  RELATIVE HUMIDITY (%)
Temp. 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100
110
(47)
136
(58)
                       
108
(43)
130
(54)
137
(58)
                     
106
(41)
124
(51)
130
(54)
137
(58)
                   
104
(40)
119
(48)
124
(51)
131
(55)
137
(58)
                 
102
(39)
114
(46)
119
(48)
124
(51)
130
(54)
137
(58)
               
100
(38)
109
(43)
114
(46)
118
(48)
124
(51)
129
(54)
136
(58)
             
98
(37)
105
(41)
109
(43)
113
(45)
117
(47)
123
(51)
128
(53)
134
(57)
           
96
(36)
101
(38)
104
(40)
108
(42)
112
(44)
116
(47)
121
(49)
126
(52)
132
(56)
         
94
(34)
97
(36)
100
(38)
103
(39)
106
(41)
110
(43)
114
(46)
119
(48)
124
(51)
129
(54)
135
(57)
     
92
(33)
94
(34)
96
(36)
99
(37)
101
(38)
105
(41)
108
(42)
112
(44)
116
(47)
121
(49)
126
(52)
131
(55)
   
90
(32)
91
(33)
93
(34)
95
(35)
97
(36)
100
(38)
103
(39)
106
(41)
109
(43)
113
(45)
117
(47)
122
(50)
127
(53)
132
(56)
88
(31)
88
(31)
89
(32)
91
(33)
93
(34)
95
(35)
98
(37)
100
(38)
103
(39)
106
(41)
110
(43)
113
(45)
117
(47)
121
(49)
86
(30)
85
(29)
87
(31)
88
(31)
89
(32)
91
(33)
93
(34)
95
(35)
97
(36)
100
(38)
102
(39)
105
(41)
108
(42)
112
(44)
84
(29)
83
(28)
84
(29)
85
(29)
86
(30)
88
(31)
89
(32)
90
(32)
92
(33)
94
(34)
96
(36)
98
(37)
100
(38)
103
(39)
82
(28)
81
(27)
82
(28)
83
(28)
84
(29)
84
(29)
85
(29)
86
(30)
88
(31)
89
(32)
90
(32)
91
(33)
93
(34)
95
(35)
80
(27)
80
(27)
80
(27)
81
(27)
81
(27)
82
(28)
82
(28)
83
(28)
84
(29)
84
(29)
85
(29)
86
(30)
86
(30)
87
(31)

Category Heat Index Possible heat disorders for people in high risk groups
Extreme
Danger
130°F or higher
(54°C or higher)
Heat stroke or sunstroke likely.
Danger 105 - 129°F
(41 - 54°C)
Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion likely. Heatstroke possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
Extreme
Caution
90 - 105°F
(32 - 41°C)
Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
Caution 80 - 90°F
(27 - 32°C)
Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.

 

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