On 08/10/2014 10:42, Dave Cornwell wrote:
I was thinking about this and I don't have as much of a problem as some
others with it. Clearly most of us know what a temperature means and
everyone may "feel" different anyway due to their inbuilt resiliances.

In countries like Japan where the climate is hot and humid in summer and
dry cold in winter they have another "comfort" indicator that is a
mixture of temperature and humidity. The good zone being just enough of
each. I found dry cold much more acceptable than the natives.

UK cold damp winters and slushy snow is a particular dislike of mine.

For example what feels chilly to most of us will feel absolutely
tropical to Will ;-) Nevertheless most people don't really appreciate
the absolute temperature as much as what they feel. Often my wife come
in and says things like "it's hot out there" and I will retort with "
..it's only 16C actually!" etc. Part of the issue is the lack of general
understanding that temperatures are measured in the shade. How often do
year hear Sports commentators coming out with stuff like it's 120
degrees on court etc.

In strong sunshine it is surprising how tolerable low temperatures can
be provided that there is no wind or you are sheltered from it.

Correspondingly soaked to the skin in 6C driving rain on top of a fell
feels very much colder than the indicated thermometer temperature.

So taking into account that the public forecasts aren't just for weather
nuts like us I think it is useful at certain times. These might be for
instance when there is strong on shore breeze on an early sunny summer's
day, or early in the year , say late March, when there is strong
sunshine, little wind but the actual temperature is only 7C and so on.
It has its place , "I feel" :-)
Dave

Wind chill factor has its place but it is far too often used for
hyperbolic announcements rather than to inform.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown