Heat index
Temperature index that accounts for the effects of humidity
The heat index (HI) is a measure of temperature as perceived by humans, combining actual air temperature and relative humidity, in shaded areas; it takes into account that elevated humidity makes hot ambient temperature feel higher than the same temperature with lower humidity, as evaporative cooling of sweat is less effective. For example, when the temperature is 32 °C (90 °F) but relative humidity is high at 70% it feels as hot as 41 °C (106 °F) at low humidity. The heat index relates to sensed temperatures in the shade without taking into account heating by direct sunlight and physical activity, or cooling by wind.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Heat index” as temperature index that accounts for the effects of humidity. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the general reference register because the source frames it as temperature index that accounts for the effects of humidity. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Named sources, stable identifiers and responsible institutions provide the strongest route from overview to verifiable evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 20, 2026.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
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- Expand the search: follow Heat index primary sources, Heat index archive and Heat research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
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This entry incorporates text from “Heat index” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.