[ELI5] How do meteorologists objectively quantify the “feels like” temperature when it’s humid – is there a “default” humidity level?

Question

[ELI5] How do meteorologists objectively quantify the “feels like” temperature when it’s humid – is there a “default” humidity level?

In: Earth Science

Answer 1

Your body does not feel temperature at all. What it feels is how quickly it is gaining or losing heat.

How much humidity is in the air affects how quickly we gain or lose heat, and it does so in predictable ways that you can just punch into an equation and get a result. If it is a particularly wet and hot day and you are gaining heat as quickly as you would if it was 10ﾟ hotter and dry, then they say it feels like it is 10ﾟ hotter.