Categories: Pennsylvania News

Why does humidity make hot days feel worse?

(WHTM) — Everybody knows, it’s the humidity that gets you. But why is that?

Humidity, which is a measure of the air’s water vapor content, is no stranger in the Midstate. It feels sticky, heavy and — on the hottest days — suffocating.

This is because high humidity blocks an important function for the human body: sweating.

The body’s natural way of cooling itself off is, of course, sweating. When sweat evaporates, it reduces the body’s temperature.

But the National Weather Service says this cannot happen when humidity is high. When the atmospheric moisture content increases, the service said, the rate of evaporation off the body decreases.

“In other words, the human body feels warmer in humid conditions,” the service said.

National Weather Service

Forecasters measure this effect with the heat index. It’s a blend of the air temperature and relative humidity percentage, and it shows what the temperature outside actually feels like to the human body.

So, it’s not just the humidity that gets you.

How to stay safe in extreme heat

Extreme heat is when heat and humidity with temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit lasts for at least two to three days, according to Ready PA.

Extreme heat is responsible for the most weather-related deaths each year, the agency said. So, it recommends taking some precautions:

  • Drink water to stay hydrated
  • Take cool showers or baths
  • Dress in loose-fitting fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing
  • Stay indoors and limit exposure to the sun
rssfeeds-admin

Share
Published by
rssfeeds-admin

Recent Posts

How to Read The Sun Eater Books and Novellas in Order

Far in the distant future, long after the human race has spread itself among the…

33 minutes ago

Top 10 Best Malware Sandbox Tools for Security Teams in 2026

The cybersecurity landscape in 2026 is defined by unprecedented sophistication. Threat actors are leveraging generative…

1 hour ago

Black Flag’s Edward Kenway Is the Best Assassin Because He Doesn’t Care for the Creed

Have you noticed? You can’t spell ‘Edward Kenway’ without ‘wayward’. And the protagonist of Assassin’s…

2 hours ago

Hands Over, a Horror Party Game, Announced for PC

Hands Over is a new multiplayer horror party game that takes some of your favorite…

2 hours ago

Black Flag’s Edward Kenway Is the Best Assassin Because He Doesn’t Care for the Creed

Have you noticed? You can’t spell ‘Edward Kenway’ without ‘wayward’. And the protagonist of Assassin’s…

2 hours ago

Black Flag’s Edward Kenway Is the Best Assassin Because He Doesn’t Care for the Creed

Have you noticed? You can’t spell ‘Edward Kenway’ without ‘wayward’. And the protagonist of Assassin’s…

2 hours ago

This website uses cookies.