How to Know If the Tangible Temperature Outside Can Kill You

Know your Wet Bulb Temperature and save yourself from heat stroke and possible death

Thermometer and hygrometer. Photo by Kaffeebart on Unsplash

Higher temperatures combined with higher humidity make for a bad living environment. There is more to it than the temperature you see on the news.

You have to know the different indicators to look for, and what they mean. Then you recognize if you need to be alert. Of course, when you are engaging in any activity, you feel the heat affecting you. Did you know that in the changed climate, even sitting outside doing nothing can get to you?

The saying goes: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!” What if going outside is the worst thing you can do?

So what do you need to know about heat?

Here is a personal example: in the Netherlands, we have what we call ‘summer temperatures’ in our sea climate. That means the thermometer shows 25 to 29 °C (77–84 °F) in the shade. After a day or two thunderstorms occur and the temperature drops 5 °C (40 °F).
Our usual summer weather has changed with the climate. Every summer we plunge into tropical temperatures, one summer even maxing out at about 41 °C (105 °F).