To Give People "Sense Of Temperature", Weather Body To Issue Heat Index

The heat index is yet to be validated for Indian conditions and uses the comfort levels of weather experienced by Americans in their regions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday started issuing heat index for different parts of the country on an experimental basis, taking into account the air temperature and relative humidity.

In addition to giving the day's minimum and maximum temperatures, the heat index, mainly for the plains, will give people "a sense of what the temperature actually feels like".

"We are utilising the temperature and humidity data at 2:30 pm for the heat index and the forecasts as the maximum temperature occurs at that time," IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said at a Media Workshop on Weather and Climate here.

Currently, the weather office uses a formula of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to calculate the heat index.