Why is there such a thing as a “feels like” temperature? For example, in NYC, it’s 91 degrees today but the weather app says it “fees like” 99 degrees

Question

Why is there such a thing as a “feels like” temperature? For example, in NYC, it’s 91 degrees today but the weather app says it “fees like” 99 degrees

In: Earth Science

Answer 1

Because what it “feels like” to you depends on your ability to sweat and cool off when the sweat evaporates. Literally your skin gets wet with water from the sweat, and the wind blowing “forces” it to evaporate, and the water “sucks” the heat out of your body to use as energy to go from liquid phase to vapor phase. That’s how you can be “ok” in 100+ degree temperature outside, which is hotter than your body temperature of 98 (Fahrenheit).

So basically a 91 degree humid air with no wind will feel equivalent to a 99 degree dry+windy day.