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 was coined in 1965.[1] The humidex is a nominally dimensionless quantity (though generally recognized by the public as equivalent to the degree Celsius) based on the dew point.
Range of humidex: Scale 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
- ^ "Spring and Summer Hazards". Environment and Climate Changes. Government of Canada. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ Meteorological Service of Canada. "Humidex". Spring and Summer Weather Hazards. Environment Canada. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ Hong, Jackie. "7 things you probably didn't know about the Humidex". The Star. Retrieved 23 September 2016.