National Weather Service Heat

There are two options for determining heat index. One is to know the air temperature and the relative humidity in percent and then find the heat index value in a table. Table 18-5 is the National Weather Service Heat Index Table." Note that Table 18-5 applies to shady locations. If someone is in a sunny location, the heat index value may be up to 15°F higher. 

Weekly values of average temperature (AVETEMP) and of heating (HEATDD) and cooling (COOLDD) degree days were calculated from the daily values measured in Central Park (in Manhattan) obtained from the National Weather Service. 

National Weather Service. (2002). Heat index (apparent temperature) chart. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http //www. crh.noaa.gov/dvn/tools/heatindex.pdf... 

The National Weather Service developed a third index, the heat index, as a simple way to help people decide about exposures in hot and humid conditions. 

Federal OSHA has worked closely with California OSHA to adapt materials from that state s successful outreach campaign on heat illness for use in this national effort. In addition, OSHA is now partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on weather service alerts that will incorporate worker safety precautions when heat alerts are issued across the U.S. NOAA also will include pertinent worker safety information on its Heat Watch Web page at www.noaawatch.gov. 

---