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A better tool than the heat index for exercising in the heat

Check the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature first

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is better than the heat index since it incorporates wind and sunshine levels into how the body feels in the hot weather.

It feels like 110° today but that’s not the complete picture when it comes to heat index or the “feels like temperature”.

If you plan on exercising in the hot sunshine, there is a better tool to indicate the heat stress on the body called Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WGBT).

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It is more comprehensive than the commonly used heat index scale which only factors in temperature and humidity to calculate what feels like temperature on the body.

For athletes in direct sunlight, the WGBT is better suited to alerting players to the dangerous stress on their bodies because is more accurate since it factors in wind and sunshine in addition to heat and humidity.

This experimental tool is most useful for active, acclimatized people such as outdoor workers, athletes, and anyone else performing strenuous outdoor activities.

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There is no concern when WGBT levels are below 80, but heat stress can happen in 20-45 minutes at 80-90,

As the wet-bulb globe temperature increases over 90, the body will become stressed in only 15 minutes.

This can help schools and coaches enforce rules for hydration and regulate OSHA requirements for construction and agricultural workers to help deter heat strokes.

The forecast for June 15, in Jacksonville, indicates extremely dangerous hours between 11 am and 5 pm.

You can monitor WBGT at various WeatherStem locations which report the current readings along with other useful information including lightning and video streams of current sky conditions.

You can check which hours of the day will be too hazardous from this website which provides forecasts for up to five days.


About the Author
Mark Collins headshot

After covering the weather from every corner of Florida and doing marine research in the Gulf, Mark Collins settled in Jacksonville to forecast weather for The First Coast.

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