A problematic metric

Helene Rush’s recent letter makes the case for the absurdity of the heat index when reporting the weather. I am in lockstep with her conclusion.

I don’t think I could ever imagine myself thinking, “They forgot to list the heat index on today’s weather report, so I’m extremely apprehensive about going outside.” Indeed, all I need are the temperature and humidity indices since I have a built-in computer between my ears which normally functions, for my purposes at least, adequately.

Science tells us that wind increases evaporation irrespective of the temperature of either body or ambient air unless 100 percent saturated with water (rain, fog), but guess what; wind is basically omitted when factored into the heat index. Who, besides meteorologists, knew? Unless at 100 percent humidity, the wind regardless of temperature and humidity will increase body evaporation with a resultant feeling of coolness and, when present, knock the heat index askew. It seems to me the non-inclusion of wind in the determining algorithm alone tends to render the heat index a problematic metric.

While on the subject of weather reporting, I suggest moving the evening temperature of the five-day forecast back where it belongs and quit splitting the days. The computer between the ears is more than capable of figuring all that out.

JAMES H. BARRÉ

Little Rock