Often, simply learning the expected high and low temperatures isn’t adequate preparation for going outdoors. Many people wait to hear the feels like temperature before they plan what to wear and where to go on any given day. The feels like temperature gives you a clue about how you will feel outdoors, rather than a simple temperature that leaves you guessing.

Measuring wind chill is one way of determining the feels like temperature. Wind chill involves measuring the temperature as it is felt on skin, as a result of air temperature and wind speed. Basically, wind chill measures the heat skin loses when the wind blows on it.

The wind chill is practically always lower than the temperature of the air. This is because wind increases the speed of moisture evaporation from your skin and serves to move heat away from your body. The exception to this rule, however, is when higher temperatures are concerned. At higher temperatures, wind chill is considered far less significant.

The heat index is another way of measuring the feels like temperature. It takes into account both temperature and humidity in determining how warm temperatures feel to your body. When a human being perspires, the water in his or her sweat evaporates. This results in the cooling of the body as heat is carried away from it. When humidity is high, the rate of evaporation and cooling is reduced, resulting in a higher heat index.

Keep in mind that the feels like temperature you hear when listening to your local weather forecast may not be enough to determine how you will feel in certain weather. For example, heat index measurements are given for shady conditions with light wind evident. In full sunshine, the feels like temperature may seem hotter than the heat index indicates. By the same token, if you are standing in a sheltered area that receives full sun, you may feel a bit warmer than the forecasted wind chill indicates.

The feels like temperature is particularly important for helping you to guard your health. When the heat index is particularly high, you may be at increased risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Likewise, extreme wind chill temperatures can put you at risk for frostbite and hypothermia. As such, it is important to pay attention to the feels like temperature in addition to the actual forecasted temperature for the day.