why does it sometimes show the temperature outside is 5° but Feels like 1°. Isn’t the actual temperature supposed to be what it’s feeling like? What’s the whole purpose of having that 5° there then

Question

why does it sometimes show the temperature outside is 5° but Feels like 1°. Isn’t the actual temperature supposed to be what it’s feeling like? What’s the whole purpose of having that 5° there then

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Answer 1

The *real* temperature is a result of physical processes that we can measure with tools like thermometers. But there are *other* factors like humidity and wind chill that also affect how we as humans feel that temperature, and so the “real feel” temperature aims to estimate that. For instance, it might *technically* and physically be warmer than freezing outside, but due to very strong winds it might *feel* like it is much colder than freezing.

The first is important to record so that we can establish average weather and climate trends for an area over a month, a year, many years. The second is important to report so that we can dress appropriately when we go outside.