Humidex

The humidex (short for humidity index) is an index number used by Canadian meteorologists to describe how hot the weather feels to the average person, by combining the effect of heat and humidity. The term humidex is a Canadian innovation, that was first coined in 1965.^[1] The humidex is a dimensionless quantity based on the dew point.

Range of humidex: Degree of comfort:^[2][3]

20 to 29: Little to no discomfort

30 to 39: Some discomfort

40 to 45: Great discomfort; avoid exertion

Above 45: Dangerous; heat stroke quite possible

History

The current formula for determining the humidex was developed by J. M. Masterton and F. A. Richardson of Canada's Atmospheric Environment Service in 1979. Humidex differs from the heat index used in the United States in being derived from the dew point rather than the relative humidity.

The record humidex in Canada first occurred in Windsor, Ontario with measurement at 52.1^[4] degrees Celsius on 20 June 1953 as reported by Environment Canada.

Then on 14 July 1961, when Castlegar, British Columbia, recorded a new record humidex of 53.4.^[5] This value was almost beaten on 25 July 2007 when Carman, Manitoba, hit 53.0.^[6]

The humidex computation formula

When the temperature is 30 °C (86 °F) and the dew point is 15 °C (59 °F), the humidex is 34. If the temperature remains 30 °C and the dew point rises to 25 °C (77 °F), the humidex rises to 42. The humidex is higher than the U.S. heat index at equal temperature and relative humidity.

The humidex formula is as follows:^[7]

${\text{Humidex}}=T_{\text{air}}+0.5555\left[6.11e^{5417.7530\left({\frac {1}{273.16}}-{\frac {1}{T_{\text{dew}}}}\right)}-10\right]$

where

• $\scriptstyle T_{\text{air}}$ is the air temperature in °C
• $\scriptstyle T_{\text{dew}}$ is the dewpoint in K

The humidity adjustment effectively amounts to one Fahrenheit degree for every millibar by which the partial pressure of water in the atmosphere exceeds 10 millibars (10 hPa).

HUMIDEX

		Temperature (°C, for range 59–109 °F)
		15	20	25	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	41	42	43
Dew point (°C)
	10	16	21	26	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	42	43	44
	15	19	24	29	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	45	46	47
	20		28	33	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	49	50	51
	23			35	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	51	52	53
	24			36	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	52	53	54
	25				42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	53	54	55
	26				43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	54	55	56
	27				45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	56	57	58
	28				46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	57	58	59

See also

• Heat index (with temperature chart in both °F and °C)
• Thermal stress on humans
• Wind chill

References

1. "Spring and Summer Hazards". Environment and Climate Changes. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
2. Meteorological Service of Canada. "Humidex". Spring and Summer Weather Hazards. Environment Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
3. Hong, Jackie. "7 things you probably didn't know about the Humidex". TheStar.com. The Star. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
4. "Environment Canada". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
5. "National Climate Data and Information Archive, Castlegar A". 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
6. Cbc.ca Archived January 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
7. "Calculation of the 1981 to 2010 Climate Normals for Canada". Retrieved 4 October 2014.

External links

• Wind Chill and Humidex Criticism about the use of Wind chill and humidex
• More Humidex info