STORM2K

I've been interested in the messaging of the heat advisories and heat warnings that have been issued here in Delaware lately. Here is the typical text, cut from the Mt. Holly website:

PHILADELPHIA
803 PM EDT SAT JUL 23 2011
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT
SUNDAY...
* HEAT INDEX VALUES...UP TO 103.
* TIMING...PEAK HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE EXPECTED DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS.
* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CREATE
DANGEROUS HEAT INDEX VALUES. THIS WILL OCCUR RIGHT THROUGH
SUNDAY.

Maybe I'm old school, but I personally think the Weather Service should rethink their messaging, and include a mention of TEMPERATURES in a special weather statement that has to do with high TEMPERATURES! I realize heat indices are a valuable measure of discomfort and risk, but weather forecasts should really focus on weather forecasting, not skip right past the weather, and just focus on human impact.

I think that both the temperature and heat indices are both important measures that need to be relayed. They both carry a human impact.

Stephanie wrote:I think that both the temperature and heat indices are both important measures that need to be relayed. They both carry a human impact.

I agree. Both are important. The indices gives an actual/possible/probable impact due to the factors involved in the "feels like" as opposed to the real temperature which is a true physical measure of the heat that in some ways is a perceptive thing with the public that doesn't necessarily understand the HI. Unfortunately some might think that the "lower" temperature is not "bad" when in fact it may be very dangerous. Much education needed for those that aren't weather geeks like us.

What i've noticed, given the emphasis on just reporting forecasted heat indices, (and downplaying temperature) is that for many casual (non-geek ) forecast users the "heat indices", "reel-feel", "feels-like" values are gradually just becoming the new temperature. I've lost track of the number of times this summer i've heard someone at work say "its supposed to be 105 today" when the forecast is actually hi temps of 95, with heat indices of 105. For many who dont pay close attention, the distinction between temperature and other units of measure are blurred.

There is a reason for that wording. Head Advisories are not issued based on temperatures. Their criteria depends on heat indices. They don't want both temps and heat indices in the products as the average (or below average) person will be confused in many instances.