The Central Weather Bureau is to launch a heat and ultraviolet index forecast on Friday so people can better prepare themselves for the day’s weather conditions.
The bureau said that the difference between temperature and the heat index is that temperature is measured using a thermometer between 1.25m and 2m above ground level and the heat index is measured by how people feel, which can be affected by humidity, wind speed, direct exposure to sunlight and metabolism.
Though exposure to sunlight and metabolism vary from person to person, both the humidity and wind speed can be measured, the bureau said, adding that high humidity can make it difficult for skin to disperse heat, which causes people to feel that the temperature is higher than it actually is.
Strong wind can expedite the skin’s heat dispersal and cause people to feel colder than the actual temperature, the bureau said.
The bureau said the temperature might be measured at 30°C, but the human-perceived temperature could reach 34°C when humidity reaches 70 percent.
If the wind speed is 4kph, though the temperature is measured at 14°C, people could feel it is only 12°C, the bureau said.
The ultraviolet index service was previously provided by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and the bureau said that it would follow the index set by EPA, adding that it would expand the number of forecast areas from the 19 provided by the EPA to all townships.
The ultraviolet index is divided into five categories: low (0 to 2), moderate (3 to 5), high (6 to 7), very high (8 to 10) and extreme (11 or above).
The index also gives an indication of the time it would take to get sunburned if people are exposed to high, very high or extreme levels of ultraviolet rays.
The bureau is also to advise people on the measures to take to protect themselves, including wearing hats, sunscreen and sunglasses, using umbrellas and staying indoors between 10am and 2pm.
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